Download VCU Poster Symposium for Undergraduate Research and Creativity

The following individuals and departments are acknowledged
for their many contributions:
•John J. Ryan, Ph.D., Assoc. Vice President for
Research Development, Office of
Research
•Frank Macrina, Ph.D., Vice President for Research
•Herb Hill, UROP Director
•Tamara Highsmith, VCU Dining Services
•Sarah Golding, Ph.D, UR Coordinator, Biology
• Jacqueline Smith-Mason, Ph.D., Dean of
Research, The Honors College
• Ms. Lisa Rufer, UROP Program Assistant
•VCU Student Research Organization
• The Honors College, Student Council
• Department of Psychology
• VCU School of Arts
•Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program
(UROP)
•Gail Hackett, Ph.D, Provost
•Megan Hodge, VCU Libraries
•Karen Rader, Ph.D, Science, Technology and
Society Program
•Faye Prichard, VCU Honors College
•VCU Research Week Task Force
•School of Social Work
• Mary Boyes, VCU Honors College
• Department of Chemistry
•Sarah Cunningham, Director of Research, Arts
• Rosalyn Hobson, Ph.D, School of Engineering
The posters presented were supported by the generosity of many VCU, governmental and private
funders, including:
AD Williams Trust Funds
American Heart Association
Amgen Summer Scholars Research Program
British Academy
Honors Summer Undergraduate Research Program
Howard Hughes Summer Scholars Program
Jeffress Memorial Trust
Levehulme Trust
National Institute on Drug Abuse
National Institutes of Health
National Science Foundation
Ronald McDonald Charities
VCUarts Grants for Undergraduate Students
VCU Center on Health Disparities
VCU Clinical Research Center
VCU Department of Biology
VCU Department of Psychology
VCU General Clinical Research Center
VCU School of Education Research Grants Program
VCU School of Engineering
VCU School of Social Work
VCU Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP)
VCU University College
Virginia Institute for Psychiatric and Behavioral Genetics
Virginia Premier Health Plan
Virginia Tobacco Settlement Foundation
The Undergraduate Research Advisory Committee
Dr. John J. Ryan – Associate Vice President for
Research, Committee Chair
Dr. LaChelle Waller, Director of Advising
and Undergraduate Research, Dept. of
Chemistry
Herb Hill – Director of Undergraduate Research
Opportunities, Assistant Chair
Dr. Ananda Newmark Director BSW
Program, School of Social Work
Dr. Blythe Bowman - UROP Coordinator,
Wilder School, Community Engagement and
Disaster Risk Reduction Group
Jason Chow, Asst. Professor, VCU School of
Education
Dr. Timmerie Cohen, Director of Clinical
Education, Radiation Sciences, School of Allied
Health
Dr. Sarah Golding, Director of Undergraduate
Research, Department of Biology
Dr. Shilpa Iyer, Director, Dean's
Undergraduate Research Initiative,
School of Engineering
Dr. Alison Montpetit, Asst. Professor,
Department of Adult Health and Nursing
Systems, School of Nursing
Dr. Lisa Phipps, STEM-H Online Learning
Specialist
Dr. Joseph Porter, Professor, Department of
Psychology, Director of Biopsychology
Program
Dr. Nancy Scott, Associate Dean, School of
the Arts
Dr. Jackie Smith-Mason, Assistant Dean,
Director Undergraduate Research, Honors
College
Dr. Dewey Taylor, Associate Professor,
Department of Mathematical Sciences
Dr. Manoj Thomas, Director of Technology,
Information Systems, School of Business
Dr. Cathy Viverette, Advising and
Undergraduate Research, Life Sciences
All Abstracts Organized by Poster Number
Reperfusion Therapy With Rapamycin Prevents Myocardial Ischemic Injury,
Through Activation of AKT and ERK
1.
Sean Roh, Post Baccalaureate Certificate Program, with Dr. Anindita Das and Dr. Rakesh Kukreja, Division of
Cardiology, Dept. of Internal Medicine
Our previous study confirmed that by administering Rapamycin (a drug often used for organ transplant to
reduce the rejection of the organs) before the onset of heart attack (Ischemia) preconditions the heart in which
making it less prone to the heart attack damage on cardiomyocytes. (Heart tissues) In our current project, we
further delve into the novel effect of Rapamycin on reducing the damage of cardiomyocytes during the onset of
heart attack, more specifically during the reperfusion stage (opening of clogged coronary artery). We were
able to find the effect of the drug: It increased the survival rate of the mice as well as reducing the infarct
(damaged) regions. We concluded that the drug could be one of the novel treatment strategies to attenuate
reperfusion injury in the heart.
2.
Piano Practice as a Technique for Remyelination: Multiple Sclerosis Therapy for
Children (Ages 7-18)
Michelle Nguyen, Department of Biomedical Engineering, with Prof. Mary Boyes, VCU Honors College
Pediatric multiple sclerosis (MS) only accounts for 3-5% of all MS cases, yet it affects children more
intensely due to demyelination of underdeveloped white matter. Pediatric MS research into complementary
and alternative medicine remains limited. Because of this, I examined the effect of practicing piano on the
remyelination of axons in the corpus callosum because it is important to evaluate childhood white matter
development in order to further understand whether playing the piano could potentially serve as therapy for
pediatric MS patients (ages 7-18). In addition to this, I reviewed the necessary protocol that must be pursued
in order to assess piano practice as pediatric multiple sclerosis therapy. I explored scholarly articles
regarding: the corpus callosum in pediatric MS patients in comparison to healthy patients, brain plasticity in
childhood, music practice as emotional and physical therapy, and synthesized the procedures of related
studies to propose a study that will measure the effect of piano practice on the corpus callosum of pediatric
MS patients. Through this investigation, I have found that piano practice could be a more effective therapy for
pediatric multiple sclerosis (MS) because it counteracts the effects of MS demyelination by increasing
myelination in children’s white matter bodies. Practicing the piano increases white matter volume in the
corpus callosum (CC), which connects both hemispheres of the brain. Increasing myelination of the CC will
lead to improved function in both hemispheres of the brain, which addresses the cause of many MS
symptoms. A long-term study of the effect of consistent piano practice on the mental, physical, and cognitive
health of pediatric MS patients would more definitively evaluate the efficacy of piano practice therapy.
3.
Assessing Dendritic Identity and Protein Trafficking in Regenerated Dendrites in Adult
Drosophila
Sarah S. Izabel; Laura Devault; Lily Jan, PhD; Yuh Nung Jan, PhD. Physiology Department, UCSF, Howard
Hughes Medical Institute
Neurons exchange information through synaptic signals or sensory inputs received by the dendrites, which
may generate action potentials that can propagate along the axon. This exchange can be interrupted when
axons or dendrites are damaged. Axonal regeneration has been widely studied, but dendritic regeneration has
not received the same attention. For that reason we have focused this study on assessing injury recovery in
Drosophila dendrites. The model we used has several desirable features: neurons that are easily imaged, a
tractable genetic system, and the potential to build a framework for future studies. Previous research has
assessed dendritic growth in response to acute injury using Drosophila larvae. We aim to evaluate such
growth in adult animals. Drosophila larvae are still developing. We aim to understand how stable adult
dendritic arbors respond to injury. When injuring the animals, we utilize lasers from a two-photon microscope
to severe all dendrites at the first branch point by laser ablation, leaving a bald neuron. In assessing injury
response, we image animals and perform immunohistochemistry staining. This staining assesses the injured
neuron’s maintenance of neuronal identity, ability to correctly traffic somatodendritic proteins and integrity of
cytoskeletal structure. We stained these neurons using the antibody against PPK-26, a neuronal type specific
marker, to assess the identity of injured neurons. We also stain for PPK-26 in a non-permealized condition to
attest that these proteins are located at the surface of the neuron, as in uninjured neurons. Finally, we test
for stabilized microtubules, by staining for Futsch, the Drosophila MAP1B homolog. Preliminary results
indicate the presence of PPK-26 in regenerated neurons suggesting that the dendrites present morphological
similarities to those of fully functioning healthy neurons. We have also located presence of Futsch marker in
regrown dendrites. Although certainty is only reached after quantitative analyses, we hope to find that these
dendrites also contain microtubules in its regenerated expansions. Ultimately, we aspire to expand our
knowledge of the cytoskeletal structure of regenerated dendrites and compare with findings of the larvae
model, which have established that regrown dendrites maintain some but not all of the characteristics of
uninjured dendrites.
The NIH (Initiative for Maximizing Student Development program), the Howard Hughes Medical Institute
(Exrop Research Training Program) supported this work.
4.
The Tuskegee Syphilis Experiment
Colleen Arthur, Dept. of Political Science and Homeland Security & Emergency Preparedness, with Dr. Herbert
Hirsch, Dept. of Political Science
The aim of this paper is to look into the human rights violations committed by the United States
against the black men during the Tuskegee Syphilis Experiment as well as touch on the broader concept of
racial medicine. In addition, my goal is to dismantle the pretense society may hold about the United States
and the moral high ground it claims to stand on. In order to accomplish this goal, I will make parallels about
atrocities committed by the United States on the African-American population to those committed by the
Nazis on the Jewish population in Germany. I will first briefly define the disease in order to provide an
understanding of its severity. Then I will discuss the Tuskegee Syphilis Experiment (TSE) in its entirety. Next,
I will discuss and analyze the specific human rights violated. I will then go through and break down aspects of
the TSE and provide direct examples of crimes committed by the Nazis to dismantle the mask the United
States wears. I will also attempt to investigate the physicians in order to get a thorough understanding of
racial medicine and its application specifically in the Tuskegee Syphilis Experiment as well as in general. In
conclusion, I will synthesis the inability of the government to protect its people to the implications it presents
today.
5.
Of Shining Sea and Rising Sun: cultural storytelling in the genre of horror in video
games
Anna Webster, UROP Summer Research Fellow, Dept. of English, with Brian McTague, Director of the VCU
Writing Center
In the modern era, video games are hardly the simple, mindless medium that they used to be. Rather,
they are now being used as a vehicle for artistic expression and storytelling worldwide, creating a colorful and
comprehensive new approach to the storytelling experience that was previously reserved for books or movies.
The immersive nature of the medium provides for a richer and more stimulating experience, from which the
genre of horror greatly benefits. Rather than the more passive experience the viewer gets from watching a
movie or reading a book, video games allow for the player to be completely immersed, experiencing the story
rather than just witnessing it. This general aspect combined with the opportunity for unique artistic
expression and storytelling, provides for a better overall horror experience.
Within the horror genre,
there are two schools of storytelling: the Eastern Style (primarily from Japan and countries in the Far East),
and the Western Style (particularly the United States). These styles are both unique with their approaches to
the genre, begging the question: what do different cultures find scary? Through careful analysis of the Eastern
and Western styles, we can understand the characteristics and unique components, identifying the reasoning
behind them. An examination of broader social implications in the areas of religion, history, and psychology,
will expand the scope of the digital media studies, providing a greater understanding of the continued
evolution of human storytelling. The evolution and future possibilities of storytelling are explored in this study
by examining the techniques and implications specific to these two identified schools within the horror genre
of video games.
6.
The Influence of Parenting Styles on Alcohol and Nicotine Drug Use among University
Students
Zackaria Niazi, Dept. of Biology, with Dr. Amy Adkins, Dept. of Psychology, COBE and Dr. Danielle Dick, Depts.
of Psychology and Human and Molecular Genetics, and Ms. Megan Cooke, Doctoral Candidate, Virginia Institute
of Psychiatric and Behavioral Genetics
Parenting styles are important in the behavioral development of adolescents. The environment created by the
parent, in regards to communication with their child and the level of independence given to their child, may
influence the child’s susceptibility to risk behaviors. This study examines the relationship between parenting
style and substance use among university students. We hypothesized that university students exposed to
lower levels of autonomy granting (AG) or parental involvement (PI) parenting styles would have an increased
likelihood of alcohol and nicotine use. We also hypothesized that religiosity, parental education level,
ethnicity, and gender would act as moderators of parenting styles and alcohol and nicotine use. Data from
Fall 2011-2014 surveys (N = 7368, 61.6% female) of a diverse university-wide sample were used. Results
demonstrated that AG had no significant association with alcohol use, however there was a significant
negative association with nicotine use (B = -0.037, p = 0.001). All moderators were found to be significant
predictors of alcohol use, however only father education level and Hispanic/Latino ethnicity moderated the
relationship between PI and alcohol use. Religiosity, ethnicity, gender, and mother’s education were found to
be significant predictors of nicotine use. Only gender moderated the association between PI and nicotine use.
Even though nicotine use and AG were associated, our results indicate that once students enter college,
previous parenting style does not have a strong effect on alcohol and nicotine use behaviors in our sample.
7.
Causes of Mortality Rates of African American Infants Between 1960 and 1980
Hadeel Tewfig, Dept. of Sociology and Aysha Adrees, Pre-Nursing with Dr. Susan Bodner-Deren, Dept. of
Sociology
Background: The East End Cemetery is a historically black cemetery that was established in Richmond in
1897. The upkeep of the cemetery has been neglected and vandalized over time which resulted in many
tombstones either broken, displaced or covered in vines and overgrowth. There are current efforts to restore
the cemetery to its original state and update records.
Objectives: The study was done to trace the rate of infant mortality during the 1960s to the 1980s and
whether the deaths were due to preventable causes.
Methods: 35 subjects that fit within the time period were collected and those that were up until the age of 2
accepted. The names and age were then verified on an online data base off. The cause of death recorded from
the death records were then sorted out under preventable or unpreventable causes. To determine whether the
cause of death was preventable, further research was done into the technologies and medicines that were
available at that time.
Results: It was found that during the chosen time period, discrimination played a role in the high rates infant
mortality in the African American community. During the 1960s-1980s, a great number of the deaths, 69% of
the collected data, were caused by preventable causes. The remaining 31% was due to unpreventable causes
or Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).
8.
Early Computing Education Competition
Anthony Kormos, UROP Summer Research Fellow, and Mary Bull, with Dr. Elena Olson, Department of
Information Systems, School of Business, Virginia Commonwealth University.
Abstract: Industry needs more graduates proficient in STEM. Early introduction to STEM concepts
leads to more STEM professionals (Pike, Smart, Ethington 2012). There are currently programs
throughout the country that help high-school students become proficient in many STEM disciplines,
but few that allow students to focus on e-Business technology. Our research project concentrates on
designing and developing a program that would create a vocational semester-long club/course teaching
e-Business technology at a high school level. We modelled our research on similar projects that were
successfully implemented in different STEM areas such as robotics programs. The students will be
working in small teams under supervision of a Virginia Commonwealth University faculty/student
mentor and a high school-based mentor on a complete SDLC of a team website. After creating and
testing the website, the teams of different schools will compete against each other on the functionality,
creativity, and design of their website. (Soldner, 2012). This project will allow high-school students to
gain experience in research, through the exercises conducted in the club, and to develop valuable
networking and project management skills, by introducing them to businesses and deadlines. The
project will refine the high-school students’ knowledge in web design and development, improving
achievement in introductory computer science, and increasing the number of students meaningfully
involved in STEM. (Soldner, 2012).
References:
Pike, Gary R., Smart, John C., & Ethington, Corinna A. (2012). The Mediating Effects of Student Engagement
on the Relationships between Academic Disciplines and Learning Outcomes: An Extension of Holland's
Theory. Research in Higher Education, 53(5), 550-575.
Dennis, S., Wright-Babb, Danielle, Lyncheski, Stephanie, & Parent, Robert. (2013). Improving Student
Achievement in Introductory Computer Science Courses Using Peer-Led Team Learning, ProQuest
Dissertations and Theses.
Soldner, M., Rowan-Kenyon, H., Inkelas, K., Garvey, J., & Robbins, C. (2012). Supporting Students'
Intentions to
Persist in STEM Disciplines: The Role of Living-Learning Programs Among Other Social-Cognitive Factors. The
Journal of Higher Education, 83(3), 311-336.
Surface layer climatological analysis of meteorologic data at The VCU Rice
Rivers Center
9.
Joseph Robinson, Dept. of Biology, with Dr. Vickie Connors, Center for Environmental Studies
Air temperature, precipitation and wind direction are important atmospheric variables for climatology, which
specifies the climatic norms of a certain region. Climatologies can be useful references for environmental and
life science researchers to better understand the environmental conditions of their research. For this
investigation, data were acquired by the VCU Rice Rivers Center (RRC) bluff meteorological tower, whose data
ranged from 15 June 2008 to 21 July 2016 and had a temporal resolution of ten minutes. Time series plots of
daily average temperature were created for each year. Temperature data were validated by comparison to
similarly resolved weather data from a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) sponsored
station in Hopewell, VA for the same time period. A two-sample t-test between the two data sets demonstrated
that the RRC data were of high quality. Cumulative precipitation plots were produced for 2014, 2015 and
2016. Comparison of these plots to both Hopewell and the Richmond International Airport (RIC) showed high
amounts of rainfall at the RRC, which can be explained in part by El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO)
teleconnections. Wind direction was also investigated to determine whether or not channeling occurred that
carried air pollution from Hopewell to the RRC. The data analyzed, however, did not support this effect. The
climatology produced by this investigation provides valuable insight to the environment of the RRC and its
surroundings, and is a useful tool for researchers seeking environmental information for their work.
10.
Measuring Binding between PilA and PilN from P. aeruginosa
Samuel Paek, Dept. of Biology, with Dr. Michael Donnenburg, MD., Department of Internal Medicine, Division of
Infectious Disease
The primary focus of this project involves proteins of the Type IV pilus machine in Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
This pathogen causes mild to severe life threatening conditions including pneumonia, bacteremia, and death
(10 February 2017; www.cdc.gov/hai/organisms/pseudomonas.html). Type IV Pili (T4Ps) are long
appendages of bacterial pathogens that are involved in many functions. The biosynthesis of T4Ps in P.
aeruginosa requires many different molecules working together to create its structure (Laverty et al. 2014).
The pilus itself is made primarily of PilA proteins, but also includes different minor pilin proteins (Laverty et
al. 2014). Starting from the cytoplasm of the bacteria, T4P spans into the inner and outer membrane, each
with a ring linked to the one above it. Each ring is comprised of different protein molecules that exhibit
different functions, depending on the location (Chang et al. 2016). Within each layer of membrane space there
are many functional proteins that make up its core. These proteins together form the T4P machine, which
operate and control the pili of the respective pathogen. The pili are essential to the bacteria’s many different
virulence functions such as surface motility, biofilm formation, colonization, and pilus extension or retraction
(Chang et al. 2016). The overall goal of the laboratory is to develop a complete understanding of the function
of the T4P machine, as this knowledge could lead to new approaches to preventing or treating infections
caused by bacteria that produce them. This project seeks to play a role in outlining the relationship between
two specific proteins within the large molecular machine that controls the pilus retraction/extraction, and
become part of the developmental framework that adds to the overall goal. Understanding the molecular
machinery of type IV pili will play a crucial role in combating P. aeruginosa, because of the pili’s role in
attaching to host cells (Persat et al. 2015). Our research seeks to integrate this information in order to combat
the epidemic taking place with many pathogens that have developed a strong resistance to different types of
antibiotic treatments (Leighton et al. 2015). By gaining clear insight into the functions and intricate
machinery of its pilus mechanisms, we can seek to counteract the pathogen’s ability to bind to host cells, and
render it harmless (Leighton et al. 2015).
11.
Role of Spag17 gene in spermatogenesis
Elizabeth Kazarian1, Maria E Teves2. 1 College of Humanities & Sciences. Virginia Commonwealth University.
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology. School of Medicine. Virginia Commonwealth University.
2
Spermatogenesis is a process in which sperm are developed from male primordial germ cells into species-specific
spermatozoa. The Spag17 gene is a complex gene composed of 49 exons that plays a role in sperm flagellum
motility. Spag17 encodes for several protein isoforms that are associated with microtubules and have tissue
and cell specific expression patterns. The 250 kDa full length SPAG17 isoform protein is found in testes and
tissues with motile cilia. Varying protein band expression was found by performing Western blot on samples
collected from wild-type mouse testes and mix germ cells. Western blot using Anti-SPAG17 C-terminus antibody
showed the 250 kDa full length protein as well as the known 97 kDa SPAG17 isoform. There was also a
consistent band across three Western blot results, which was indicated between 75 and 50 kDa, potentially
pointing to a new isoform of the SPAG17 protein. RT-PCR experiments were performed to evaluate the
expression of different transcripts from wild-type mouse testes and mix germ cells. Nucleotide sequence was
analyzed by using the ncbi NIH BLAST tool, which detected sequences with varying transcripts when contrasted
to original sequence. In addition to the known transcripts, there were several new transcripts derived from
alternative splicing that were found in testes and germ cell samples. These transcripts were T400, which
included exon 1 to exon 3 skipping to exon 18 to exon 19, and transcript T500, which included exon 1 to exon
2 skipping to exon 17 to exon 19. There was also one more transcript T800, which included exon 1 to exon 3
skipping to exon 19 to exon 22. Localization of SPAG17 protein was evaluated by immunofluorescence in sperm
and mix germ cells with samples double stained for acrosome and microtubule markers. Immunofluorescence
images showed colocalization of SPAG17 with Golgi body and tubulin at varying stages of spermiogenesis. This
result correlates SPAG17 with the development of the Golgi body, an organelle essential to acrosome progression
in spermatogenesis, as well as tubulin, central in the organization of the acrosome and flagellum. The future
vision for this research project is to continue the characterization of the SPAG17 protein isoforms throughout
the stages of spermatogenesis.
12.
Destructive Stationary Phase Gradient for HPLC
Caitlin Cain, Dept. of Chemistry, with Dr. Maryanne Collinson and Dr. Sarah Rutan, Dept. of Chemistry
High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) is a robust and universal analytical method for the
separation of compounds, making it a widely used technique in fields from pharmaceuticals to environmental
science. With the growing complexity of samples, improved resolution is needed for the better differentiation
between eluted peaks; therefore, the selectivity of the separation must be improved. Improving selectivity can
give rise to inefficient separations, so these two concepts must be balanced. For the past couple decades,
chromatographers have focused on refining the efficiency of the stationary phase. We believe that enhancing
the selectivity of the stationary phase is now necessary and can be done with the creation of a continuous
gradient along the length of the column. Current work has shown that continuous gradients on in-house
monolithic columns have led to efficient, optimized separations with novel selectivities. However, there has
yet to be a continuous gradient created on a packed column. This work focuses on the development of a
destructive gradient stationary phase, where the functional groups on a commercially packed column are
cleaved to form a gradient. The aim of creating a continuous stationary phase gradient in this fashion is for
all chromatographers to be able to develop novel selectivities on old packed columns. Preliminary
experiments show that these functional groups can be cleaved with the use of sulfuric acid in a gradient
fashion, changing the selectivity of the stationary phase.
13.
Perceptions of and Attitudes towards Social Supports of Individuals that are
incarcerated at a Local County Jail
Jillian Olson and Michael DiGiacomo with Dr. Allison Ryals, VCU School of Social Work
Humans need social support. This is especially true during periods of stress and emotionally overwhelming
experiences. The purpose of this research project is to describe the existence of, perceptions of, and attitudes
towards social supports of individuals that are incarcerated and participating in substance abuse programs at
a local county jail. This information was obtained through administering surveys to the aforementioned
program participants using unique researcher-crafted questions along with a frequently used existing tool,
the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS). Results of this study can be useful for
corrections employees, social workers, and individuals that are incarcerated, as insight into how individuals
that are incarcerated perceive their social supports will be useful for further supporting them as they attempt
to reintegrate into society.
Keywords: incarceration, social supports, survey, jail, perception, programs
14.
Figure This: The Figurines of Ancient Mesoamerica
Anna Wagstaff, Dept. of Communication Arts, with Dr. Bernard Means, Dept. of Anthropology
Figurines are an essential part of the the archeological record of ancient Mesoamerican civilizations. They
hold the answers not only to chronological, but also to cultural, social, and religious mysterious about their
prehistory. By studying their design and production archeologist can be used to build a blueprint of the way
of life for these ancient societies. They depict ritual icons, and leaders, and the form and function of these
figurines can show us how they featured in the religion, rituals, and daily lives of the ancient peoples of the
Olmec, Aztecs, and Mayans.
15.
Pediatric Plaque Psoriasis: Targeting IL-17A and IL-17F Pathways, Keratinocytes, and
TH17 Cells with Combination Therapy of Etanercept and Intermittent Narrowband
Ultraviolet-B Phototherapy
Amulya Kotha, Dept. of Bioinformatics, with Prof. Mary Boyes, VCU Honors College
The development of psoriatic plaques and lesions is attributed to the inflammation of Interleukin-17A
and Interleukin-17F pathways along with the overproduction and proliferation of keratinocytes and Th17
cells. Currently, treatment for pediatric plaque psoriasis is mainly topical with results that provide temporary
relief but fail to tackle the disease at its roots and cure it. Combination therapy of etanercept and narrowband
ultraviolet B phototherapy is a new development in psoriatic treatment and has been proven to be efficient
with minor side effects in treating adult plaque psoriasis. Etanercept functions to block the inflammatory
pathways and halt the production of keratinocytes and Th17 cells while phototherapy diminishes pre-existing
plaques. The efficacy of combination therapy is yet to be evaluated in treating pediatric plaque psoriasis. This
paper discusses the avenues of etanercept monotherapy, phototherapy monotherapy, and combination
therapy along with the pathogenesis of psoriasis through the evaluation of various studies conducted in the
field of psoriatic medicine. It is geared towards the development of a long term, substantial cure for pediatric
psoriasis through the proposal of a future study of combination therapy confronting its roots while
simultaneously diminishing pre-existing plaques and lesions. Future studies should evaluate the efficacy of
combination therapy of phototherapy using UVB-LEDs and pre-irradiation of mineral oil along with
intermittent etanercept therapy in treating pediatric plaque psoriasis.
16.
Impact of Facility Age on the Presence of Legionella spp.
Wisam Elia, Dept. of Biology, with Dr. Amy White
Legionella pneumophila bacteria may cause the rare but serious Legionnaries’ disease. An estimated 8,000 to
18,000 people contract Legionnaires’ disease each year and need care in the hospital.1 Legionella is
commonly found in the environment in warm water sources, and studies have recently suggested that
Legionella can spread through aerosolized forms, a possible new source of transmission.2 More information
on the growing environments of Legionella is required; therefore, our research tested for the presence of
Legionella in water sources at Virginia Western Community College, in hopes of better understanding the
bacteria’s preferential environments. We hypothesize that Legionella will be most present in older buildings
due to possible biofilm buildup in pipes.
17.
The 3-Dimensional Heisenberg Lie Algebra
Sarah Williams, VCU Honors College, Mathematical Sciences, with Dr. Marco Aldi, Dept. of Mathematics
Generalized geometry is used in physics to study supersymmetry in the context of string theory. This
research involves integrating mathematics and physics in this way by focusing on generalized CauchyRiemann F-structures (CRF-structures) on low-dimensional nilpotent Lie algebras, specifically the threedimensional Heisenburg Lie algebra. The goal of this project is to analytically describe the geometry behind
extra dimensions (in addition to space and time), especially those that are simple enough to be described
mathematically, but complex enough to not be trivial. This research is of interest to both physicists and
mathematicians, as it would account for the observed behavior of subatomic particles and contribute to the
study of string theory.
Design and analysis of a Microbiome Mock Community: Understanding and
Mitigating Methodological Biases
18.
Mosby, S.1, Kiflezghi, M.1, Rivas-Cruz, V.2, Edwards, D.1,3, Brooks, P. J.1,3, and Rivera, M.C.1,2
1:
Center of Biological Complexity, IMSD Research Scholars, Virginia Commonwealth University
2:
Department of Biology, Virginia Commonwealth University
3:
Department of Statistical Sciences & Operations Research, Virginia Commonwealth University
The gut microbiome has been shown to influence immunity, to play a role in obesity, colorectal cancer and
diabetes among others. Although much research has been done, there is still a lack of understanding of what
factors in the gut microbiome are influencing the health and/or disease state of the host. Among the
challenges facing microbiome research are the difficulties in accurately identifying and quantitating the
components of a microbiome. A typical protocol for analyzing and comparing microbiomes is to conduct a
taxonomic and phylogenetic survey or census of the members of the microbiome community. The microbiome
survey is typically performed by high-throughput sequencing of PCR amplification of the 16S rRNA gene from
the community metagenome, followed by applying bioinformatics methodology to assign a taxonomic
identification to each one of the sequenced fragments. These processing steps can introduce bias that can
distort the true or original composition of the microbiome. The ultimate goal of the experiments presented
here is to understand the type and magnitude of the bias introduced by the typical protocols used for
microbiome characterization. In order to uncover potential biases affecting microbiome studies we are
designing and analyzing a mock community or a synthetic microbiome. The mock community is designed by
combining in vitro known proportions of a set of well-characterized bacterial species. Processing the mock
community with the same protocols used by microbiome experiments will allow us to generate a quality
control for these types of experiments. We designed a low complexity mock community composed of 10
species of bacteria isolated from different hosts. These 10 bacterial species will be mixed at different ratios
and the different mixes will be subjected to a full microbiome analysis. This analysis includes DNA extraction,
PCR amplification, NGS sequencing and bioinformatics analysis. The goal of the experimental design is to
determine our ability to recover the original input ratios. The ratios obtained by our experimental protocols
will ultimately be used to develop mathematical models to predict the “true” composition of the microbiomes.
In the initial phase of the project we grew each organism individually as a pure culture followed by PCR
amplification and sequencing to assess the purity of the cultures. We analyzed the sequences by comparing
them to the NCBI nucleotide database using BLASTN. The BLASTN results indicated we had to distinct
cultures sharing only 95% sequenced identity; the sequence of one of the cultures showed a 99% sequence
identity to Escherichia coli and the other showed 99% sequence identity to Shimwellia blattae. The same
methodology will be used to analyze another 8 pure cultures.
19.
The Role of CaMK-II in the Development of Leukemia/Lymphoma in Zebrafish
Daniel Mohammadi, UROP Summer Research Fellow, VCU Honors College, Dept. of Forensic Science, with Dr.
Sara Rothschild, Dept. of Biology
Acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) is a blood disorder characterized by aberrant proliferation of immature
lymphocytes. ALL is the most common cancer in children and can result from external influences, such as
radiation, or internal influences, such as genetic mutation. Additionally, Ca 2+/calmodulin-dependent kinase II
(CaMK-II) is a serine/threonine protein kinase whose increased expression has been found in various
leukemias. Zebrafish and human immune cells are analogous and both species have conserved
hematopoietic stem cell specification mechanisms. In this study, the constitutively active form of CaMK-II,
resulting from a threonine to aspartic acid point mutation at the 287 base-pair location (T287D), was paired
with the EGFP transgene using Tol2 Gateway technology and injected into zebrafish at the one-cell stage. The
zebrafish expressing the transgene were outcrossed to wild type and mutant p53 zebrafish and then
monitored for leukemic development using flow cytometry and pathology. Based on FACS results, the mutant
p53 bearing the T287D mutation were found to have increased levels of lymphocytes compared to the mutant
p53 zebrafish without the T287D mutation. Furthermore, hematologists confirmed the development of B-cell
leukemia/lymphoma from histological slides prepared from the mutant p53 with the T 287D mutation. The
mutant p53 without the T287D mutation did not yield such results. These findings highlight a potential role of
CaMK-II in the abnormal development of lymphocytes and provide a useful model, from which, drug studies
can be performed for potential treatment options.
20.
Archaeological Analysis of Worked Bone Artifacts (working title).
Madelyn Knighting, Dept. of Anthropology, with Dr. Bernard Means, Dept. of Anthropology
The act of carving animal bone into tools or ornamental figures has been practiced by numerous
societies across the globe for millennia. The earliest presence of worked bone is associated with the excavated
remains of Homo sapiens found in Africa which date back to about 1.5 million years ago. The presence of
worked bone has been documented in hunter-gatherer societies, a multitude of indigenous sites, and various
religious contexts around the world. It is important to be able to determine from which animal the worked
bone came due to its ability to give social and environmental context to the site in which it is found. This
research poster will discuss the history of worked bone, how it is manufactured, and how it is analyzed using
case studies from Monongahela and Iroquoian archaeological contexts to compare and contrast worked bone
usage cross-culturally.
Exploring Barriers and Facilitators to Sustaining Mindfulness Practice in
Healthcare Professionals
21.
Andrew Harris, UROP Summer Research Fellow, School of Nursing, with Dr. Patricia Kinser,
Mindfulness is the discipline of being continually, deliberately, and non-judgmentally aware of the present
moment. It is believed to be beneficial to healthcare providers (HCPs) for alleviating burnout, which is a
combination of emotional, physical, and mental exhaustion accompanied by decreased effectiveness and
engagement at work, with potential negative sequelae for patients and health systems. The goal of this VCU
UROP Summer Research Fellowship project is to explore whether healthcare professionals/ trainees continue
to engage in mindfulness practices beyond those which occur during a formal class. This study evaluates
qualitative data from participants of the “parent study” (PI: Kinser), HCPs and trainees who were students in
an 8-week VCU elective course on mindfulness from fall 2014 to spring 2016. The UROP study explores how
(or if) the parent study’s participants continue to practice mindfulness after the conclusion of the course, with
a particular focus on what has helped or hindered that practice. Data was analyzed using an iterative content
analysis based on descriptive qualitative methodology in the manner of a hermeneutic circle. The major themes
that arise will be compared to the literature and will be used to construct a coherent picture of participants’
general experiences. Preliminary data analysis reveals the following emerging themes: (1) HCPs view
mindfulness as a lifestyle and/or a discrete tool; (2) barriers to personal mindfulness occur when the “tool”
approach is the focus instead of integration of mindfulness as a lifestyle; and, (3) although mindfulness apps
are common and easily accessible, most participants view self-driven mindfulness practices to be most effective
in both personal and professional life. By contributing to our understanding of participants’ experiences with
barriers and successful strategies for maintaining mindfulness practice, the findings from this study will inform
future research about mindfulness-based interventions for HCPs, with the goal of reducing burnout and
enhancing resilience in HCPs and ultimately improving quality and safety in healthcare environments.
22.
Roles of Coactosin like protein 1 (COTL1) in the regulation of cancer cell adhesion and
motility
Faisal Shakir, Dept. of Biology, with Dr. Andrei Ivanov, VCU Institute of Molecular Medicine
The majority of solid cancers originate from different human epithelia, and they frequently progress from welldifferentiated primary to poorly differentiated metastatic tumors. During this progression, tumor cell lose
epithelial characteristics, such as strong intercellular adhesions (junctions) and acquire ability to migrate and
disseminate throughout the body. This process involves robust remodeling of the actin cytoskeleton that
drives disassembly of intercellular junctions and promotes tumor cell motility. Actin filament turnover
(polymerization/depolarization) plays key roles in this cytoskeletal remodeling, however mechanisms that
regulate actin dynamics in cancer cells remain incompletely characterized. In this study, we investigated the
involvement of an enigmatic actin-binding protein, coactosin-like protein 1 (COTL1) in the regulation of
adhesion and migration of colon and lung cancer cells. COTL1 belong to a family of so-called ActinDepolymerising Factor Homology Domain proteins, which are the major controllers of actin filament turnover.
COTL1 was found to be overexpressed in lung cancer but its roles in tumor metastasis remain poorlycharacterized. By using a specific siRNA-mediated knockdown of COTL1 in SK-CO15 and HT29 colon cancer,
and H209 small cell lung cancer cells, we made the following novel and important observation: (1) COTL1
colocalized with apical junctions in confluent colonic epithelial cell monolayers and its depletion significantly
increased epithelial barrier permeability to small ions and large uncharged molecules; (2) loss of COTL1
disrupted the steady-state integrity of adherens and tight junctions and attenuated junctional reassembly in a
calcium switch model; (3) COTL1 knockdown had a dual effect on the motility of colon and lung cancer cells
by attenuating collective migration (wound healing), but promoting individual transfilter migration of these
cells. Overall, this study identified COTL1 as a novel regulator of cell-cell adhesions and motility of cancer
cells in vitro. Further studies are required to reveal mechanisms mediating the observed cellular activities of
COTL1, as well as the roles of this actin-binding protein in the regulation of tumor progression and
metastasis in vivo.
23.
Towards the Development of an in vitro 3D Culture Cancer Model for the Design
of Dendrimer-Anti-cancer Drug Conjugates
Justin Moore, IMSD Research Scholar, Qian Zhong, and Sandro R.P. da Rocha* School of Pharmacy & Chemical
and Life Science Engineering, Virginia Commonwealth University – Richmond, VA 23298-0533
Two dimensional (2D) monolayer cells cultured on flat substrates have been for decades an important
in vitro tool used to test and understand numerous biomedical problems. Traditionally, these cell culture assays
have been a monolayer of cells cultured in vitro. However, these 2D cultures have recently come under scrutiny
for their significant departure when compared to the in vivo tumor microenvironment they are designed to
mimic. In 2D monolayer cell cultures cell-to-cell/cell-to-matrix interactions, biomedical gradients and signaling
pathways are lost, tumor characteristics that significantly affect the drug transport. The long-range of this
project is to establish a 3D in vitro model to test the ability of dendrimer-anti-cancer therapeutics to treat solid
tumors, and the impact of their chemistry in terms of its ability to penetrate deep regions of the solid tumor
environment. The first part of this project is establish a more relevant in vitro model system that can represent
the natural three-dimensional architecture of solid tumors, and also to establish a cytotoxicity protocol to
compare the 3D system to traditional 2D systems. The 3D system prepared here consisted of multicellular
spheroids (MCS) on a gel-embedded matrix. This resembled avascular tumor nodules, intervascular regions of
large solid tumors with respect to micro milieu, volume growth kinetics and some histomorphological features.
Briefly, a certain number of 4T1 metastatic breast cancer cells were seeded in flat-bottom 96 well plates, which
were coated with agarose gel. The MCS were allowed to grow for 4 days. It was found that the size of MCS varies
with the number of the cells seeded initially, and a protocol was established to grow these spheroids to an
optimum and consistent size, with the important characteristic of being >400 m. Using an MTT assay, we
tested the cytotoxicity of doxorubicin (DOX) on the grown MCS, and then compared these results to a 2D model
system assay. The MTT assay showed that much higher concentration of DOX are required to achieve 50% of
cell death (IC50%) in the 3D spheroid (ca. 13 fold) compared to the 1uM IC50% observed in the 2D monolayer.
Next steps in our study include the establishment of cell co-culture model, and to study the effect of dendrimerDOX conjugates with various functionalities as nanocarriers for the delivery of anti-cancer molecules.
Corresponding author: [email protected]
Acknowledgements: VCU for a Start-up Grant; NSF-DMR Grant # 1643770 and VCU IMSD NIHR25GM090084 for a scholarship for JM.
24.
Utility of Bacteria Associated with Human Hairs in Forensic Investigations
1Courtney
Hutchens, 2Amelia A. Bussell, 3Richard R. Sikon, and 1Baneshwar Singh
1Department
of Forensic Science, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23284. 2Texas Department
of Public Safety, Austin, TX 78752.
3Virginia State Anatomical Program, Virginia Department of Health, Richmond, VA-23219.
Hair is one of the most commonly encountered physical evidence at the crime scene. Hair evidence is
extremely valuable in association or exclusion of suspect to the crime scene or the victim, and can play
critical role in narrowing down suspects based on identification of age, sex, and race, of an individual.
Currently, microscopic analysis is performed for determination of age, sex, and race of hair evidence, but this
method requires extensive experience, is subjective, lacks individualizing power, and has no known error rate.
Often hairs that are left at the crime scene are rootless, which makes nuclear DNA analysis very challenging.
Even with nuclear DNA analysis, it is not possible to determine if a particular hair originated from scalp or
pubic region. In this situation, an alternative unbiased quantitative method for hair examination is needed. In
this study, scalp and pubic hairs were collected from 14 donated human cadavers by the Office of the Chief
Medical Examiner (OCME) in Richmond, Virginia. DNA was extracted from each hair samples using an
organic method, and extracted DNA was quantified using the Qubit® dsDNA HS assay kit. Variable region 4
(V4) of 16S rDNA was amplified and sequenced on MiSeq sequencing platform using dual-index strategy and
following manufacturer’s protocol. Sequences were then analyzed using Mothur version 1.39.4 and statistical
analysis was performed using R version 3.3.2. Preliminary results from this study suggest that bacterial
structure associated with scalp hair is significantly different from bacterial structure associated with pubic
hairs. Bacterial structure associated with pubic or scalp hairs from human cadavers were not significantly
different between male and female. All samples except one, included in this study were collected from
Caucasian individuals and hence any difference in bacterial structure associated with race was not
determined. In conclusion, this study provides evidence that microbial data associated with human hairs has
tremendous potential in development of a quantitative tool for hair analysis.
Race, Ethnicity, and Trauma Symptomology among Children Exposed to
Intimate Partner Violence
25.
Ksenia Dombo, UROP Summer Research Fellow, School of Social Work, with Dr. Shelby McDonald, School of
Social Work
It is estimated that one in four children in the U.S. will witness intimate partner violence (IPV) during their
lifetime. Children who witness IPV are at higher risk for mental health problems, such as post-traumatic
stress symptoms (PTS). Research on adult samples of trauma survivors suggests that cultural, racial, and
ethnic factors have an impact on the manifestation of mental health symptoms, with recent studies reporting
differences in PTSD symptom clusters and factor structures among Hispanic, non-Hispanic White, and
African-American survivors of trauma. Such cultural differences may have important implications for
interventions with children exposed to IPV. Yet, to date, no study has explored whether there are subgroups of
children with similar patterns of trauma symptomology, and whether the manifestation of symptom clusters
is associated with children’s racial or ethnic identity and/or cultural factors. Therefore, the current study
explored the following research questions: (1) Can meaningful and distinct classes of trauma symptomology
be identified among children exposed to IPV using multiple indicators of posttraumatic stress?, (2) If multiple
latent classes are identified, is race and/or ethnicity related to class membership? Method: Two hundred
and ninety-one mother-child dyads were recruited from 22 domestic violence agencies. The sample of
children was gender-balanced (53% male), with a mean age of 9.07 (range 7-12; SD=1.64). The racial/ethnic
identification of children was as follows: 55% Latinx, 22%, non-Latinx White, 18% Multi-racial/ethnic, 4%
African American/Black, 1% American Indian or Alaska Native, and 0.3% Asian American. PTS symptoms
were measured using maternal report on the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL; Achenbach, 2001). Latent class
models were estimated using a maximum likelihood estimator with robust standard errors and were
implemented in Mplus software. Results: Fit indices (i.e., AIC, BIC, adjusted BIC, LMRT, BLRT) resulting from
the latent class models containing 1 through 5 classes indicated that the 4-class solution was the optimal
model. Classes were labeled as follows: Low/no PTS (n = 164), Intrusive/Arousal PTS (n = 57), Anxious
arousal PTS (n = 43), and Severe PTS (n = 27). A chi-square test of independence indicated that child
racial/ethnic identity was significantly related to class membership. Notably, 74.5% of Latinx children in the
sample were in the “low/no” symptomology group. Conclusion: Our findings are inconsistent with the small
body of prior research documenting higher levels of trauma symptoms among Latinx children. Future
research should continue to explore how children’s racial and ethnic identities, and associated cultural
factors (e.g., familismo), influence the manifestation of PTS symptoms following exposure to IPV.
26.
Utilization of University Counseling Services in the Spit for Science sample
Ann Sperow, Dept. of Biology, with Dr. Amy Adkins, Dept. of Psychology
University Counseling Services (UCS) is a valuable resource for students experiencing mental health
challenges while in college. Several previous studies have shown that gender and other similar identifiers
correlate with students’ utilization of UCS, though other studies have shown no effect. In this study, we used
the Spit for Science dataset to investigate UCS utilization and the influence of gender and other related
factors. Based on the literature, it is hypothesized that males will utilize UCS less than females. Over the
course of 2 years, 2,374 students were asked if they had utilized UCS before. Preliminary data showed that
about 19% of the participants had utilized the services. Current analyses are examining whether service
utilization differs by gender and other factors. Our analyses can provide further data to UCS as to what
factors influence utilization of UCS at VCU.
Peopling of the Americas: Exploring a Pre-Clovis Presence of Humans in the
Americas
27.
Juan Goncalves Borrega, Dept. of Anthropology, with Dr. Bernard Means, Dept. of Anthropology
Interpreting how the peopling of the Americas occurred has been approached by scholars using
interdisciplinary methods such as anthropology, biology, genetics and linguistics. However, the scope of this
assignment focuses on the archaeological record along with respective radiocarbon dates. The goal of my
research is to reevaluate the “Clovis –first” model of settlement of the Americas. My research draws primarily
from three pre-Clovis sites in eastern north America and three sites in south America that suggest initial
entry onto the southern continent well back in the late Pleistocene. Reading scholarly articles published by
notable archaeologists in favor of the “Clovis-first” model and from those in favor of the “Clovis-late” model
will provide me with a strong and objective standpoint to the debate. Comparative lithic analysis between
stone tool kits found at non-Clovis sites and Clovis sites will enable me to make accurate distinctions between
the characteristics of the Clovis cultural complex and others. I expect to find an emerging archaeological
record that supports a pre-Clovis human occupation of the Americas. My major findings include the discovery
of certain south American sites which demonstrate that by the time of the Clovis horizon in North America, all
major environmental landscapes were already occupied by well-adapted populations with distinctive
technologies unrelated to Clovis. Future avenues of research include further digging in both continents to
clarify and create new productive models of the peopling of the Americas.
Capacitive memory alters alternans and spontaneous activity in a minimal
cardiomyocyte model
28.
Tien Comlekoglu, VCU Honors College, Dept. of Biomedical Engineering, with Dr. Seth Weinberg, Dept. of
Biomedical Engineering
The electrical behavior of cardiomyocytes are typically simulated using ideal parallel resistor-capacitor
circuit networks. However, recent studies have suggested that non-ideal capacitor circuit elements, in which
the current-voltage relationship is governed by a fractional order derivative, may more appropriately model
cell membrane properties. These fractional-order dynamics can represent capacitive memory effects in which
electrical activity is altered by the membrane potential prior history. Previous work has shown that fractionalorder membrane dynamics alters spiking rates and ionic currents in neurons. Here, the effects of capacitive
memory are investigated in a cardiomyocyte model using a minimal 3-variable system, modified for fractionalorder membrane voltage dynamics. This model was chosen due to its intrinsic lack of memory effects.
Fractional-orders from 0.5 to 1 with varying cycle lengths were simulated. We found that decreasing
fractional-order shortened action potential duration (APD) and suppressed the pro-arrhythmic beat-to-beat
alternation, alternans, at shorter cycle lengths. For fractional orders less than 0.75, spontaneous electrical
activity was observed. Memory effects were represented by a hypothetical memory current that acted to
suppress alternans at decreasing cycle lengths and generate spontaneous electrical activity at sufficiently
small fractional orders. We suggest that capacitive memory serves to alter the incidence of alternans and may
play a role in pacemaking.
Does maternal depression predict parenting in African American mothers of
children with and without ADHD?
29.
Jannah Madyun, Dept. of Psychology, with Dr. Heather Jones, Dept. of Psychology
Both child attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and maternal depression are associated with
negative parenting (Graziano et al., 2006; Giannotta et al., 2015). Further, compared to other parents,
African-American parents report more psychopathology, including maternal depression (Huang et al., 2013).
The relationship between maternal depression and parenting in families of children with ADHD has not been
studied in African Americans. Thus, the purpose of this study was to investigate whether maternal depression
predicted parenting in African American mothers, over the influence of child ADHD.
Participants in this study included 70 African American mothers (Mage= 35.44, SD=6.46) of children with
ADHD (n=41, Mage=7.83, SD=1.38) and without ADHD (n=29, Mage= 7.59, SD=1.40). The Schedule for
Affective Disorder and Schizophrenia for School Age Children was used to assess for current child
psychopathology. The Beck-Depression Inventory-Second Edition was administered to measure maternal
depression. Lastly, to evaluate their parenting behaviors, caregivers completed the Alabama Parenting
Questionnaire; we used the Positive Involvement and Positive Parenting subscales for the analyses below.
Hierarchical regressions were conducted to examine the ability of maternal depression to predict reported
parenting behaviors in African American families of children with and without ADHD. Results indicated that
the predictors accounted for 11% of the variance in positive parenting, F(3, 75) = 2.81, R2 = .11, p<.05, and
maternal depression significantly predicted positive parenting (β=-.25, p<.05). The predictors accounted for
14% of the variance in positive involvement, F(3, 75) = 3.89, R2=.14, p<.05, but maternal depression was not
predictive of positive involvement, beyond the impact of socioeconomic status and ADHD diagnosis (β=-.25,
t(72)=-1.89. p=.05).
These findings are largely consistent with research conducted with primarily White families, although it is
interesting that maternal depression was not a predictor of involvement in their child’s life. Although it
accounted for a small amount of variability, clinicians working with African American families of children with
ADHD should consider whether to screen those mothers engaging in low levels of positive parenting for
depression. Researchers should further investigate maternal depression in African American families of
children with ADHD, and whether such depression interferes with treatment engagement and child outcomes.
It's hot as moth balls in here! Stage-specific responses to heat stress in the
invasive gypsy moth (Lymantria dispar L.)
30.
Madison Glackin1, Hannah Byrne1, Nana Banahene2, Salem Salem2, Trevor M. Faske1, Lily M. Thompson2,
Andrew J. Eckert1, Salvatore Agosta1 and Kristine L. Grayson2, (1)Biology, Virginia Commonwealth University,
Richmond, VA, (2)Biology, University of Richmond, Richmond, VA
Abstract Text: Background/Question/Methods Understanding the role of climatic limits for invasive
species is important for determining range expansion and the potential for future spread. The spread of the
gypsy moth (Lymantria dispar L.) across wide climatic gradients in North America provides an ideal system for
studying the role of thermal limits in invasion. Previous work has shown that variability in spread rates at the
southern invasion front (West Virginia and Virginia) is correlated with exposure to supraoptimal
temperatures. We tested the effect of heat stress on survival and performance by exposing gypsy moth
individuals to either an optimal control (22-28°C) or one of three supraoptimal temperature treatments (3036°C, 32-38°C, or 34-40°C) at specific developmental stages (first through fourth larval instar, pupae) for
either two or seven days. We measured survival over the duration of the heat exposure and long term effects
on development time and pupal mass or adult size.
Results/Conclusions Survival of larvae and pupae generally decreased as treatment temperature increased
for all stages. The 34-40°C temperature treatment had the largest effect on larval survival, with seven days of
exposure being lethal for all stages except second instar and pupae. The 22-28°C and 30-36°C temperature
treatments had more than 80% survival and the 32-38°C temperature treatment showed only slightly lower
survival for all larval instar stages measured. For pupae, there was no difference in survival after two days in
the heat for the three lower temperature treatments. The long term effects on final pupal mass of the two day
exposure to heat during the larval stage were more pronounced for females than males. In general, exposure
to heat at later larval stages resulted in larger decreases in pupal mass. Together, these results show negative
effects of high temperature on gypsy moth populations and support patterns of spread seen in the southern
invasion front. Our work provides important data on the susceptibility of gypsy moth to high temperature
across different developmental stages. As global temperatures rise, understanding how temperature can
mediate the spread of invasive populations will be a critical component of management decisions.
31.
The Evolution of Protein Complexes in Bacterial Species
Shwetha Hara Sridhar and Wedad Albalawi, Dept. of Bioinformatics with Dr. Peter Uetz, Center for the Study of
Biological Complexity
Protein complexes are composed of two or more associated polypeptide chains that may have different
functions. Protein complexes play a critical role for all processes in life and are considered as highly conserved
in evolution. In previous studies, protein complexes from E. coli or Mycoplasma pneumoniae have been
characterized experimentally, revealing that a typical bacterial cell has on the order of 500 protein complexes.
Using gene homology (orthology), these experimentally-observed complexes can be used to predict protein
complexes across many species of bacteria. Surprisingly, the majority of protein complexes is not conserved,
demonstrating an unexpected evolutionary flexibility. The current research investigates the evolution of 174
well-characterized (“reference”) protein complexes from E. coli that have three or more subunits. More
specifically, we study the evolutionary flexibility by using evidence and patterns of the presence or absence of
the subunits across a range of 894 bacterial species and to interpret whether the evolution is due to the loss
or gain of a subunit in the protein complex. The purpose of this study is to determine how the presence or
absence of a subunit affects the protein complexes’ functionality. We discuss the functional changes observed
in a protein complex due to the presence or absence of a particular subunit by using a statistical approach
and by confirming its significance
Characterizing the Use of Specific Delivery Strategies in Cognitive Behavioral
Therapy for Anxious Youth across Therapy Settings
32.
Vishnupriya Srivastava, Julia R. Cox, Davis Erney, Michael A. Southam-Gerow, & Bryce D. McLeod, Dept. of
Psychology
Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) for youth anxiety often features specific skills that therapists teach to
clients (e.g., relaxation, problem solving). As attention to measuring treatment integrity—a multidimensional
construct that typically comprises adherence, competence, differentiation, and relationship factors (e.g.,
Southam-Gerow & McLeod, 2013)—increases (Perepletchikova, Treat, & Kazdin, 2007; Southam-Gerow &
McLeod, 2013), some have found value in separating the content of the intervention from the method of
delivery (e.g., Hawley, Brookman-Frazee, & Hurlburt, 2008). This is partly because treatment manuals may
prescribe or suggest different treatment delivery strategies for the same skill. For example, when teaching
cognitive restructuring skills, therapists may choose to employ didactic and modeling strategies early in
treatment and turn to rehearsal in later sessions as the child’s mastery of the skill increases. Therapists’ use
of specific delivery strategies may also depend on their comfort with and training in directive approaches (e.g.,
rehearsal of exposure tasks; Becker, Zayfert, & Anderson, 2004). Further, how extensively therapists use
such delivery strategies may correlate with other therapy process factors, including the use of specific
interventions and relational factors. The main goal of this descriptive study is to examine how therapists in
different treatment settings use specific delivery strategies while providing individual cognitive behavioral
therapy for anxious youth. Data were drawn from two randomized controlled trials (RCTs) in which therapists
providing individual CBT for youth anxiety (Coping Cat; Kendall, Hudson, Gosch, Flannery-Schroeder, &
Suveg, 2008) treated a diverse sample of children, aged 8–15: (RCT1; Kendall et al., 2008) in a university
laboratory (N=51; 44% female, 85% Caucasian), and (RCT2; Southam-Gerow et al., 2010) in community
clinics (N=17; 56% female, 38% Caucasian). Therapist adherence using six specific delivery strategies of CBT
for youth anxiety—didactic (ICC = 0.73), collaborative teaching (ICC = 0.69), modeling (ICC = 0.74), rehearsal
(ICC = 0.88), coaching (ICC = 0.43), and self-disclosure (ICC = 0.71)—throughout treatment was double coded
on a 7-point scale extensiveness scale using the Cognitive-Behavioral Treatment for Anxiety in Youth
Adherence Scale (CBAY-A; Southam-Gerow et al., 2016). A total of 744 sessions were coded (RCT1 = 532;
RCT2 = 212). We will (1) compare mean-level delivery scores between settings, and (2) present delivery scores
in correlation tables with model adherence and client-involvement scores. Findings may help inform future
therapy process models and dissemination efforts (e.g., improved training, supervision, consultation).
Investigations of Replicability Failure Leads to Improvements for Future
Replications
33.
Yunjung Chung, VCU Honors College, Eleni Walker, Dept. of Psychology, with Dr. Jennifer Joy-Gaba, Dept. of
Psychology
Cacioppo, Petty, and Morris (1983, hereafter “CPM”) found that individuals with a higher need for cognition
were more affected by argument strength than those with a lower need for cognition. Many Labs 3 (Ebersole et
al., 2016) attempted to replicate CPM as well as to see if participants’ responses varied as a function of the
time in the semester. Many Labs 3 failed to demonstrate the previously reported results. Petty and Cacioppo
(2016) suggested that the failed replication was due to alteration of the original independent variables, using
weaker arguments than those used in CPM, and implementing a shortened, less reliable Need for Cognition
scale. Supporting this view, Luttrell, Petty, and Xu (2017, hereafter “LPX”) replicated the study using a
modified protocol. The purpose of the current study was to replicate the LPX protocol for the optimal
conditions at nine different universities across the United States and Canada. Our results produced the same
interaction between argument quality and need for cognition, although with a weaker effect size. In addition,
we failed to reliably distinguish between the ML3 and LPX protocols, suggesting that latter protocol is no
better than the former. LPX’s protocol is recommended for use in future research that plan on investigating
the effect of cognition and argument quality on persuasion.
34.
Forensic Analysis of a 19th Century Good Boy
Heather Buettner, Dept. of Anthropology with Dr. Bernard Means, Dept. of Anthropology
The physiology of the domesticated dog, canis familiaris, contains vast variations among different breeds.
While visual inspection of superficial remains can quickly lead to identification, is it possible to identify the
breed of a domestic dog solely by its skeletal remains? Could there be there identifiable evidence of lifestyle,
use, and diet on a canine skeleton dating to the late 19th century? By comparing skeletal structure of known
breeds of domestic dogs, research of canine anatomy and genetics, and examination of the available remains
for metric data, as well as any evidence of potential genetic pathology, deduction of relative breed can be
determined.
35.
Dental Anthropology
Katelin McGinnis, Dept. of Anthropology with Dr. Bernard Means, Dept. of Anthropology
The purpose of this research is to understand the methods of a Dental Archaeologist. These methods
are to further understand what a dental archaeologist is looking for with dentition it may be something
specific like someone’s age, sex, or diet. I want to understand what is being studied, why is it being studied,
and why it is beneficial to Archaeology. In order to study this I will look at a 3-D scan of a mandible from
North India and compare it to the methods of a Dental Archaeologist to better identify the mandible. I
hypothesize that the methods of a Dental Archaeologist are strict and complex in order to get information
correct about archaeological specimen. Question: My research goal is to understand the methods that a
Dental Archaeologist would take in order to study dentition or archaeological remains. Literature Review: I
will look at references to address this question by: Looking at the dentition of various humans -Studying the
affects of diet/age on the teeth -Understanding the methods of dental archaeology I found my references from
the VCU Libraries database and narrowed it down to topics such as Dental Archaeology and Archaeological
Dentition. Digital Models: 3-D Scan of a Mandible from North India. Anticipated Results: My anticipated
results are to be able to understand the concepts and methods of Dental Archaeology.
36.
Quality of Life and Anxiety Symptoms in Children with Asthma
Caroline George, Sudeepti Trivedi, VCU Honors College, Samantha Miadich, Mona Quarless, with Dr. Robin S.
Everhart, Dept. of Psychology
The purpose of this research was to gain a better understanding of the association between quality of life and
anxiety symptoms in children with asthma living in an urban area. Quality of life is a measure of how well a
child is adapting to his or her asthma; children experiencing more anxiety symptoms may not adapt as well to
their disease as children who are experiencing fewer anxiety symptoms. Families were recruited from the
Richmond area through a call list, and were interviewed through self-report questionnaires. The Pediatric
Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire (PAQLQ) and the Multidimensional Anxiety Scale for Children (MASC)
were both administered to 61 children with asthma. The PAQLQ was designed to measure functional
problems of children related to asthma, including physical, emotional, and social issues. The MASC measures
symptoms associated with anxiety disorders. Total PAQLQ scores and total MASC scores were negatively
correlated (r = -0.391; p < 0.01), such that worse PAQLQ scores (i.e., lower scores) were associated with worse
MASC scores (i.e., higher scores). Findings suggest that children with asthma who experience a lower quality
of life may experience higher levels of anxiety. Asthma programs that target child psychological functioning,
and specifically child anxiety symptoms, may serve to improve child quality of life. Moreover, children living in
urban areas may encounter additional economic and emotional challenges that compromise their asthma
control; alleviating some of these stressors may allow families to focus more on the health of their children.
Future research may include designing specific intervention programs to educate children in schools on how
to handle dealing with chronic illnesses and alleviating stress and anxiety.
37.
Reconstructing the Diets of Mammoths and Mastodons
Alexandra Cooley, Dept. of Anthropology with Dr. Bernard Means, Dept. of Anthropology
Much is known about one of the biggest mammals of the ice age; the Mammoth. The diet of the Mammoth is
less explored. Even less is known about the Mammoth’s relative; the Mastodon. The diets of ice age animals
have long been a topic of investigation for scientists. In order to reconstruct the diets of the Mammoth and
Mastodon, the author completed a literature review in an effort to draw parallels between the two species as
well as highlight the differences. The author expects to find that the diets of the Mammoth and the Mastodon
were similar in some ways but also had differences. Isotopic evidence as well as the shape and size of the
prospective animal’s teeth will give clear insight into the diets of these great mammals of the Pleistocene
epoch.
38.
Perceptions of Homelessness: Persons Experiencing Homelessness in Richmond,
Virginia
Hannah Jones and Kadie Von York, VCU School of Social Work, with Prof. Allison Ryals, VCU School of Social
Work
This study highlights the complexities surrounding various perspectives of homelessness and related services.
Persons experiencing homelessness face a magnitude of risk factors every day and often experience trauma,
victimization, and disrespect. In order to better serve clients experiencing homelessness, the researchers
gained direct insight from persons experiencing homelessness in Richmond, Virginia. Over the course of six
weeks, a detailed survey was distributed to new clients at a non-profit emergency shelter, Housing Families
First. The researchers found that their study mirrored many other study outcomes, while also gaining some
new and unique insights. The study indicates that there is a lack of scholarly research regarding
homelessness, especially when correlated with specific factors such as incarceration, race, and parenthood.
The study highlights the importance of future studies and more inclusive policies impacting housing stability.
Keywords: homelessness, housing stability, perceptions, service providers, race, incarceration, housing
policy
Cocooning as a Method to Reduce Pertussis in Infants and Young Children in
Nigeria.
39.
Annapoorani Narayanan, VCU Honors College, Dept. of Psychology with Prof. Mary Boyes, VCU Honors College
Nigeria has one of the highest rates of pertussis worldwide. Many infants and children are infected
with the disease each year leading to hospitalization and often death. Cocooning is a method of vaccinating
the adults and family primarily around infants in the hope of reducing infant transmission of the disease.
The goal of my research is to examine whether cocooning would be effective at reducing pertussis in infants
and children in Nigeria and how implementation would need to occur. I examined various studies considering
at the effectives of cocooning, the Nigerian healthcare practices, global vaccination programs, and the Nigerian
perception of vaccinations. In my initial examination of these studies I concluded that cocooning is effective at
reducing infants pertussis because the primary source on the infection in infants are family members.
Pregnancy dose vaccination of mothers is also a viable option in reducing infant pertussis because mothers
provide pertussis antibodies during birth protecting infants in the first 6 months of life. In order to
successfully implement cocooning in Nigeria education programs focusing on changing public perception
and misinformation information is necessary. The distrust of foreign programs and of vaccines in Nigeria
causes many obstacles when implementing new programs. The implications suggest that if implemented
correctly the number of infections and hospitalizations from pertussis could be decreased by up to 50%. This
could save thousands of lives in Nigeria and increase immunization for pertussis in adults and reduce
transmission to infants.
40.
The Graphic Novel as a Support and Education Tool for Type 1 Diabetes
Lohitha Kethu, VCU UROP Summer Research Fellow, Scientific Illustration Program, with Dr. Carmen Rodriguez,
Dept. of Biology
Type 1 diabetes (T1D), if left uncontrolled, can become a debilitating chronic illness. Diabetics must rely on
resources such as family support, proper instruction, and medication. Often, many marginalized communities
do not have these medical resources such as education, proper instruction and support in school and home
environments. Additionally, there are significant feelings of shame and guilt associated with a chronic illness
such as T1D, leading to depression and anxiety. Thus the goal of this project was to empower, support, and
suggest a healthy mindset for diabetic children of color in an entertaining and engaging way. Through a
process of storyboarding, character design, and script writing, a graphic novel was written and illustrated in
Adobe Photoshop and Indesign for an audience of elementary school children from 7-12 years of age. The
story centers around a 9 year old African American diabetic named Jaci who is newly diagnosed, and is
navigating how to interact with her family and friends and how to ask for what she needs in public spaces.
She experiences conflicts such as sleeping over at her friend's house and taking her medicine on her own, the
pain of taking shots, and going on field trips where she has to wear her medical ID for everyone to see. Ideally,
this graphic novel could prompt changes in outlook or feelings about diabetes in young type 1 diabetics.
41.
Racial Microaggressions, Mental Health, and People of Color in College
Heran Beniam, BSc, Chelsie Dunn, MA, MPH, Deborah Butler, MS, & Faye Belgrave, PhD, Dept. of Psychology
College students are faced, daily, with obstacles, such as racial microaggressions, which is represented with
the substantial amount of evidence shown. People of color in college settings are faced with the risk of mental
health issues such as anxiety and depression which is said to increase health risks over time (Blume et al.,
2012). With the increase of mental instability, people of color are more likely to look to substance abuse as an
outlet (Nadal et al., 2014). These factors, in turn, may lead to people of color from having mental distress and
substance abuse encounters due to the influence of racial microaggressions.
People of color, in a college and university setting, run into the act of racial microaggressions (RMA) that in
result affect their well being, self esteem, mental distress (Nadal et al. 2015), and substance abuse use (i.e.,
alcohol use as a means to cope with anxiety; Blume et al., 2012). There are three types of racial
microaggressions, microinsults, microassults, and microinvalidations, that play a role in how people of color
are treated. An example would be telling someone who is Asian American descent that they speak good
english (Nadal et al., 2015). In regards to the effect RMA has on people of color, racial microaggressions show
a strong association and link to problems that negatively impact a college student's life (e.g., mental
instability in their classes, substance misuse; Nadal et al., 2014).
This informative presentation will examine related factors associated with racial microaggressions and the role
it plays on college students’ mental health and substance abuse use. Additionally, we will discuss
implications for increasing awareness of racial microaggressions’ effects on people of color mental health and
reducing risky behaviors that are a direct result of experiencing microaggressions.
42. Being Holy and Holistic in Health Promotion Programs for Adolescents of Color
Yohana Emanuel, BSc, Chelsie Dunn, MA, MPH, Deborah Butler, MS, & Faye Belgrave, PhD, Dept. of Psychology
Religious organizations create an environment of openness filled with faith that helps to influence a
person’s daily choices. In many cultures that are profoundly faith-based, religion and spirituality play an
important role in building social norms especially among adolescents and providing an idea that “beliefs and
practices keep one grounded and wholesome” (Luquis, Brelsford, & Rojas-Guyler, 2012). There has been
research that suggests religion and religious organizations may be associated with promoting healthy
lifestyles and enhancing healthcare services among adolescents of color (Cornelius & Appiah, 2016). Certain
studies have assessed the use of faith-based programs that have been created to promote healthy living and
health education (Cornelius & Appiah, 2016), but there are still limitations on how deep they go in all aspects
of health. A person’s faith can alter the way they live tremendously and there needs to be a strong link
between the association of religion and health.
Subsequently, some faith-based programs have chosen to include youth sexuality education in their
programs that range from elementary to high school. Many African American churches incorporate health
promotion programs in their church programs, but provide limited information in regards to sexual education
(Francis & Liverpool, 2009). This has exhibited to create positive attitudes when it comes to addressing needs
for medical screening and other preventative actions. With regard to adolescent health, many religious
organizations do not assess the availability of health services focused on sexual health, preventative measures
and overall wellness that adolescents have access to.
This informative presentation will examine the association of religious organizations involvement in
health and health services focused among adolescents of color. Additionally, we will discuss implications for
decreasing risky sexual, emotional and physical health behaviors and increasing availability of health services
among adolescents.
43. Incorporating ethnic identity in U.S. public schools' sexual education
Vanessa Oppong, Chelsie Dunn, MA, MPH, Deborah Butler, MS, & Faye Belgrave, PhD, Dept. of Psychology
The current model of sex education in U.S public school cannot accommodate the needs of youth of
color. The form of formal sexual education in predominantly minority areas remove topics that are of cultural
significance, and are formed around a Eurocentric basis (Perry, 2011). Issues that are important to youth of
color such as body image, consent, and cultural expectations are not discussed in today’s form of sex
education. This is especially the case in predominantly minority areas (Skyes, 2011). Due to this
misinformation and lack of cultural relevance, STD rates among youth of color are staggeringly higher in
comparison to White students (CDC, 2014). The loss of access to a comprehensive sex education during these
impressionable years can cause a minority teen to struggle finding competent and medically accurate
information in turn affecting their future sexual behaviors (advocates for youth).
According to a study conducted by the Guttmatcher Institute (2017) when students of color are given
more than abstinence only sex education but detailed sexual health information while being culturally
relevant, it decreases the likelihood for the student to practice risky sex behaviors. In terms of how ethnic
identity plays a role in minority perspective of sex, few studies have examined it from this point of view
(Belgrave et al., 2010; Townsend et al., 2006). Nor do the studies identify the role that sexual education in the
form of a white context does not respond well to people of color.
My presentation will examine the role ethnic identity carries an influence into how sexual education
can be taught to youth of color. Thus, in turn, a decrease in risky sexual behaviors and increase safer sex
practices. Additionally, implications will be discussed.
44. Kushan Figural Art
Brittany Blanchard, Dept. of Anthropology with Dr. Bernard Means, Dept. of Anthropology
Artistic expression by people has found value and appreciation through various media since humans
first left behind evidence of their creativity thousands of years ago. During the Kushan period (30-375 AD) in
India, frequently people made small terracotta figurines, decorative bricks, and carved stone statues that
portrayed images of cultural and religious significance. The images created were often human, animal, or
blended hybrids of the two with fantastical components. What inspired these people to create these objects?
What was the cultural significance of these art forms during the Kushan era? How did they learn to shape
natural materials to depict their image of choice? Did any of their designs lose significance and eventually
disappear from the archaeological record?
45. Digital Osteology of Trans-Himalayan Burial Culture
Nicholas Hemann, Dept. of Anthropology with Dr. Bernard Means, Dept. of Anthropology
The purpose of this project is to record data about the ecofacts recovered from the Trans-Himalayan region,
take them into account regarding the context and provenience of their excavation, and infer cultural behavior
or practices from the quantitative and qualitative data gathered via digital osteology. The Trans-Himalayan
region is a mountainous zone defined by its location parallel to the main Himalayan range and south of the
Tibetan Plateau. The cluster of sites referenced in this paper and the ecofacts retrieved from them primarily
reside in the Kinnaur district of the Himachal Pradesh state of India, north of the Sutlej River. The
tumultuous nature of the region and the difficulty of the land to be surveyed and excavated has led to a
distinct lack of archaeological evidence and inquiry. A digital scan of two human skulls recovered from the
Lippa and Kanam sites were rendered using software and then printed using 3D printing. The digital scan
and rendering allows the skulls to be manipulated and examined, as well as measured and analyzed. The
emerging study of digital osteology permits enhanced analysis of faunal bone ecofacts.
46. Are Parental Concerns and Beliefs About Medicine Associated with Children's AsthmaRelated Anxiety?
Julia Scheidemantel, Department of Psychology, Devon Withers, Department of Psychology, Jeremy Barsell,
Department of Psychology, & Robin S. Everhart, PhD, Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology
Background: Children with asthma often experience symptoms of asthma-related anxiety. For instance,
children may worry that they will not be able to keep up with their peers, miss school, and even die because
of their asthma. Parental concerns and beliefs about the necessity of children’s asthma medications may be a
contributing factor in a child’s asthma-related anxiety. When parents do not believe in the necessity of
asthma medications, children may experience more anxiety related to their asthma and the consequences of
poorly controlled symptoms. Objective: This study will investigate the association between caregiver concerns
and beliefs about asthma medication and the level of asthma-related anxiety their children experience. We
hypothesised that if a caregiver reported negative beliefs and concerns about medication, their child would
experience more asthma-related anxiety. Methods: The sample included 61 families with a child (aged 7-12;
90% African American) diagnosed with asthma and their primary caregiver. Caregivers completed a
questionnaire, Beliefs about Medicine, indicating their beliefs and views about medications prescribed to their
child. Children completed the Youth Asthma-Related Anxiety Scale, reporting on the amount of
anxiety/nervousness they felt as a result of their asthma. Results: Pearson’s correlational analyses between
the Beliefs about Medicine questionnaire (Necessity subscale) and the Youth Asthma-Related Anxiety Scale
(Overall score) indicated a significant association (r = .31, p < .05). The association between the Necessity of
Medication subscale and the Disease-Related Restriction subscale of the Youth Asthma-Related Anxiety Scale
was also significant (r = .32, p < .05). Conclusion: Findings suggest that caregiver beliefs about medicine,
especially the necessity of taking prescribed medications, may be a contributing factor in children’s levels of
asthma-related anxiety. In the future, research in this area should replicate findings in a larger sample and
also consider ways to increase caregiver’s beliefs in the necessity of asthma medications.
47. World Languages French Curation Project
Hannah Foster, UROP Summer Research Fellow, Depts. of French and International Studies, with Dr. Lionel
Mathieu, School of World Studies
With the constantly increasing implementation of technology into individuals’ everyday lives, the use
electronic apps, websites, and other forms of technology have also pervaded the field of higher education. The
explosion of electronic educational sources and learning devices has revolutionized the way students learn.
Because of this trend, the research team behind this curation project has found that learning a foreign
language from a textbook is no longer the most effective way of aiding in the development of student language
acquisition. Consequently, this research team investigates different modes of online language learning in an
attempt to create online educational modules of their own, to be implemented in the French 202 classroom at
VCU. Their goal is to design task-based, open-source modules that focus on student interests, encouraging
them to find French educational resources that relate to their own fields of study. In this way, this research
team aims for students to assume a more dominant role in their own foreign language education.
48. Dredging Land Reclamation Causing Mucus Development in Massive Spherical Corals in
the Spratly Islands, South China Sea: The Effects on China's Fishing Industry
Tiffany Ho, VCU Honors College, Dept. of Biology, with Prof. Mary Boyes, VCU Honors College
Images from Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative depicted huge masses of white coral mucus secreted from
coral reefs in the Spratly Islands of the South China Sea, an area where several land reclamation projects are
occurring. The purpose of this research was to understand how increased sedimentation levels from the
dredging land reclamation method affects mucus development in massive corals, such as Acropora, located in
these reefs. Journal articles that focused on the biology of coral mucus, bacterial communities associated
with coral tissue, mucus, and seawater, coral mortality from different environment impacts, coral coverage of
reefs in Spratly Islands, and symbiotic relationships between reef fishes and corals were studied. The results
showed that massive corals produce excess mucus to counteract the high sedimentation levels in the water
column caused by dredging activity. Highly active heterotopic microbial communities are then attracted to the
mucus’s dissolved organic carbon and perform respiration that rapidly consumes the oxygen and causes the
coral to become stressed. Corals are important in the reef ecosystem, so the death of corals would affect fish
higher up in the food chain. The South China Sea mainly supports the fishing industry in China. However,
recent studies have shown that number of fish species has declined within the past eight years. The findings
suggested that despite China’s two-month annual ban on fishery in the South China Sea, populations of fish
will continue to decline as more land reclamation projects are implemented in the Spratly Islands, which
would significantly impact the fishing economy.
49.
Statistical Properties of Multiplicative Functions on Arithmetical Semigroups
Hanqiu Tan, UROP Summer Research Fellow, Dept. of Mathematics, with Dr. Marco Aldi, Dept. of Mathematics
In the context of abstract analytic number theory, we describe full asymptotic expansions for momenta of
prime-independent, multiplicative functions on a class of additive arithmetical semigroup that includes the
semigroup of unlabelled graphs. Our main technical tool is a theorem that generalizes earlier work of Wright
and Warlimont on generating formal power series related by an Euler Product Identity.
50. Does Socioeconomic Status Moderate the Association between Experiences of
Discrimination and Self-Reported Physical and Mental Health?
Nancy Sey, VCU Honors College, Department of Psychology, with Dr. Nao Hagiwara, Dept. of Psychology
Prior research has shown that socioeconomic status (SES) and experiences of racial discrimination
independently play an essential role in racial health disparities. However, few studies have systematically
examined the interactive effects of SES and experiences of discrimination on health in African Americans. To
add to the available literature, this study empirically examined both the independent and interactive effects of
SES and the experience of discrimination on self-reported physical and mental health of 121 African
Americans. The results showed that overall African Americans with higher SES had better physical and
mental health than African Americans with lower SES. The experience of discrimination was statistically
significant when looking at mental but not physical health. However, there was no interactive effects of the
experiences of discrimination and SES. These findings suggest that the experiences of discrimination are
detrimental to African Americans’ health regardless of the amount of material resources individuals possess.
51. Ancient Canine Personhood: The History of Dog Burials
Isabel Griffin, Dept. of Anthropology, with Dr. Bernard Means, Dept. of Anthropology
Humans and dogs have mutually benefitted from one another for tens of thousands of years. Our
alliance started when certain packs of dire wolves began following nomadic humans to scavenge their
leftovers. They learned to live comfortably among humans, and their frightening characteristics became
recessive. Man shaped dog to his liking. Thus, the bond between man and dog grew stronger. The oldest
known dog burial occurred at least 15,000 years ago. Burying the dead is evidence of cultural ritual, as well
as a sign of respect. Ancient dog burials can be found all over the world. Some cultures viewed dogs as
spiritual guides and took their canine companions to the grave with them. Other cultures used dogs in
sacrificial ceremonies and processed their bodies before burying them. Whether you love them or hate them,
we are forever historically and ecologically bonded to canines.
52. A Face-masked Vessel of Many Names: Rehnish- Stoneware BArtmann Bellermine jugs
and
Grace Riggs, Dept. of Anthropology, with Dr. Bernard Means, Dept. of Anthropology
In my research I will attempt to discern if there is one unifying cultural identity associated with the Frechen
Bartmann/Bartmann/Bellermine, “face jugs” of the Western Hemisphere. This style of jug with a facemask is
characteristic of the land around the Rhine River. The salt-glazed stoneware jugs are significant and notable
in part by the bearded face on the neck of the vessel. In my research there have been a handful of sites
scattered along the Eastern side of the Western Hemispheric land mass. Specifically, their unique form is
present from Canada, the mid-Atlantic, to Barbados. I will examine if there is a distinct cultural identity
associated with these vessels, and potentially how they ended up at these locations.
I will examine if the ‘Wild Man’ mythological motif traveled with the jugs over to the new world, or whether the
jugs have similar or different meanings in their different locations along the Eastern Coast of the Western
Hemispheric land mass. Research Question/ statement/ goal: Is there a consistent cultural identity
associated with the Frechen Bartmann, Bartmann, and Bellermine jugs of the Western Hemisphere?
Literature Review (Will need a large number of source material due to inconsistent levels of pertinent
information in publications) This turned out to be a large obstacle in my research, but luckily, with the
qualitative research that I have found the authors also comment on the shortage of data, outdated
publications, and the problem of not having enough fragments to complete vessels, to adequately draw a
conclusion across an array of samples. I think it is important to note these problems I encountered during my
research to provide inside into why I am using the source material the way I am. In my research I will
examine references and excavation reports concerning the distinctive style of the Bartmann/ Bellermine jugs.
In a number of sites across the (eastern portion) of the Western Hemisphere these salt-glazed, stoneware
vessels are present. Canada Jamestown North Carolina Barbados I will examine the origins of these vessels
for a comparative study to those found in the Western Hemisphere: Rhineland Cologne Frechen Cultural
Identity along with the bearded face masks “Wild Man” motif. Strong, independent, not bound by cultural
conventions. Semantic shift of the wild man motif causing the production to increase/decrease as the jugs
fluctuate in and out of English Fashion. Viewed as grotesque, then endearing, and then grotesque. It is not
entirely evidence whether the differences in the etching of the face are more regionally distinct or temporally
so. There seems to be scholarly disagreement on such, and a rational, supported with evidence, argument
could attempt to be made for both sides.
53. Association Between GLP-1R and Alcohol-related Phenotypes among College Students
Candance Moore, IMSD Research Scholar, Dept. of Psychology, with Dr. Amy Adkins, Dept. of Psychology
Alcohol use is prevalent on college campuses. Overconsumption of alcohol can lead to negative consequences
related to academic performance, health, and social well-being. Approximately fifty percent of the variance for
risk of developing an alcohol use disorder is genetically influenced. Understanding the underlying
components contributing to genetic risk is important so that prevention and/or treatment options can be
developed. Past research has demonstrated that variants in the gene for the Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor
(GLP-1R) may be associated with alcohol use disorder. This receptor is found in areas that process pleasure
and reward in the brain. We are interested in investigating genetic variants in this gene in a young adult
sample. The main hypothesis for this study proposes that GLP-1R allele 168Ser (A-allele) will have a positive
correlation with alcohol consumption, alcohol use disorder and negative consequences. Spit for Science (S4S)
is a university- wide longitudinal study that is currently investigating self-reported data from college students
on behavioral health and alcohol use. Using cohorts 1-3 from the Spit for Science sample (n= 6345), a gene
association analysis was completed using PLINK. We analyzed the association between 251 variants in GLP1R and the following alcohol-related phenotypes: alcohol consumption, alcohol use disorder diagnosis, and
negative consequences. Covariates included age, gender and ethnicity.
54. Effects of Astrocyte-Conditioned Media and cAMP on Blood Brain Barrier Integrity
Divya Krishna, VCU Honors College, Dept. of Biomedical Engineering with Dr. Mary Peace McRae, VCU School of
Pharmacy
The blood brain barrier is a selectively permeable barrier, consisting of endothelial cells and tight junctions,
between the the brain’s extracellular fluids and capillaries carrying blood. This barrier is affected by drugs
such as meth, or viruses such as HIV, and can make drug administration a difficult task. HUVEC cells were
grown and used to cross the membrane of transwell inserts that mimic the blood brain barrier. In one
experiment, HUVECs were given either HUVEC media, or astrocyte condition media. These HUVECs were
plated and infected with VE Cadherin, an adhesion molecule. It was found that the HUVECs treated with
astrocyte condition media had much tighter, clearer tight junctions that the HUVECs in regular HUVEC
media, indicating that astrocytes may play a significant role in strengthening the blood brain barrier. The
main project consisted of a series experiments in which HUVECs and Astrocytes in their respective medias
were treated with Diazepam at 72 hours, 24 hours, and 2 hours before the addition of Lucifer-Yellow
fluorescent dye. Samples were taken at different time intervals after the Lucifer Yellow was added, and
absorption was measured. The absorption correlates to the amount of HUVEC cells that have crossed the
transwell insert membrane. It was found that the longer the Diazepam treatments, the higher the absorption
values up to 30 minutes after adding Lucifer Yellow. This indicates that cells treated with Diazepam for
longer periods of time better pass through the membrane, whereas the cells treated with DIazepam for a
shorter period of time did not pass through the membrane as readily, so the barrier remained more intact. In
the control groups without Diazepam treatments, the absorption values were much higher, meaning that
there was a higher concentration of HUVEC cells that crossed the membrane. These results show that both a
Diazepam treatment of 2 hours, along with astrocyte condition media, reinforces the barrier in terms of
strengthening tight junctions and making the cells less proficient in crossing the barrier. Strengthening the
blood brain barrier through different methods would help to lessen the effects of brain-affecting conditions
such as HIV and ALzheimer’s, and weakened barriers would aid in the process of medications crossing to the
brain.
55. Through the eyes of the first humans in North America
Lisa Day, Dept. of Anthropology, with Dr. Bernard Means, Dept. of Anthropology
During the Ice Age many large land mammals, or megafauna, ruled the Earth. These animals were extremely
adapted to the cold and grew to large size in order to keep their bodies warm and were able to travel vast
distances in order to get the amounts of food needed to survive. As they travelled across land bridges it is
assumed that Ice Age humans followed and hunted them, eventually ending up in North America. Some
studies suggest that overhunting by humans along with a warming planet eventually led to extinction of most
of the extremely cold-adapted animals, like the mammoth, mastodon, giant beaver, dire wolf, short-faced or
Pleistocene bear, Pleistocene camel and giant ground sloth. In this project I hope to bring together some of the
animals that were definitely hunted by humans, like mammoths and mastodons, as well as some that may
have hunted the humans. My focus is on the megafauna that humans saw when they first arrived in North
America and to hopefully introduce some that people today are not aware existed.
56. Environmental and Socioeconomic Analysis of Urban Heat Island Effect in the Richmond
Metropolitan Region
Kaitlin Savage, Depts. of Environmental Studies and Urban and Regional Studies, with Dr. Jennifer Ciminelli
This research utilizes GIS applications to provide an environmental and socioeconomic analysis of urban heat
island across Virginia’s Richmond metropolitan area. As the world’s population continues to grow, cities have
undergone tremendous social, economic, and environmental stress. Today, over 80% of Americans live in
urban areas while global urbanization trends suggest a continued migration of individuals from rural areas
into more densely developed communities; these rapid growth and evolving land use patterns present an
imperative for sustainable development within the context of urban planning. Urban heat island (UHI)
phenomenon describes urban areas which experience elevated temperatures due to a number of contributing
human factors. Decreased vegetation (combined with increasing areas of dark, impermeable surfaces) and
higher levels of local emissions from vehicles can enhance the UHI effect, while persistent temperature
disparities between urban and rural areas pose a number of threats to human and environmental health.
Initial phase of analysis identifies local concentrations of heat disparities using remote sensing data provided
by NASA’s LANDSAT satellite imagery. Environmental data related to localized heat severity was subsequently
integrated with a spatial analysis of community demographic variables, such as race, income, and
educational attainment, to (1) explore any significant statistical relationships and (2) provide a secondary
index to represent community vulnerability to heat island effects. The final research component of this project
utilizes phase one and two findings to offer specific local recommendations related to successful future UHI
mitigation.
57. “Being Big Back Then…”
Alejandro King, Dept. of Anthropology, with Dr. Bernard Means, Dept. of Anthropology
My research will explore how giant Ice Age animals differed from their cousins, that still live today, and
what giant Ice Age animals tell us about their living cousins? For example, I will compare the behaviors and
attributes of Giant Beavers or Giant Ground Sloths, to their cousins today, the Beaver and the Sloth. If
conclusive enough evidence presents itself, perhaps even findings about the extinction of a species, or a
species’ lineage today can be made.
58. Analysis of lower leg muscles after Spinal Cord Injury using Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Alexis Gonsalves1,2 , Robert Lester2, Ashraf S. Gorgey2,3
1 Health, Physical Education, Exercise Science Major-Kinesiology and Health Science, Virginia Commonwealth
University, Richmond, VA 23249, USA
2 Spinal Cord Injury and Disorders Center, Hunter Holmes McGuire VAMC, 1201 Broad Rock Boulevard,
Richmond, VA 23249, USA
3 Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23249,
USA
Shortly after spinal cord injury (SCI), the musculoskeletal system experiences a series of changes in size and
composition, predominantly below the level of injury. Reduced mobility and mechanical unloading initiate an
adaptive reduction in both muscle size and bone mineral content. The loss of muscle size and strength, along
with increased sedentarism, predisposes persons with SCI to rapid and severe bone mineral density decline
and other health related consequences. Studies involving exercise, resistance training, and electrical
stimulation have proven to induce muscle hypertrophy and reduce osteopenia after chronic SCI . A variety of
imaging technology, including computerized tomography and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) have been
used to determine the effectiveness of exercise programs designed to attenuate rapid muscular atrophy and
decline in bone mineral content. In the current review, we aimed to summarize the methodological approach
used to manually trace the lower extremity muscles using MRI. This was important to provide an
appreciation of the detailed procedures required to perform analysis, despite of the poor muscle quality,
increased intramuscular fat (IMF; i.e. the fat infiltrated within muscle fibers and between muscle groups) and
altered anatomical boundaries of the target muscles. We also intend to highlight the significance of analyzing
lower leg muscle CSA and its relationship to musculoskeletal and venous dysfunction in persons with SCI.
Our ultimate goal is to use this technology to determine those who are at risks of developing secondary
conditions, including venous thromboembolism , pulmonary embolism , cardiovascular disease, pressure
ulceration and osteopenia.
59. A Path to Empowerment: Fundación En Vía's Formula for Success in Teotitlán del Valle
Katharine Hines, UROP Summer Research Fellow, Dept. of Political Science, with Prof. Christopher Saladino,
Dept. of Political Science
Fundación en Vía is a non-profit in Oaxaca, Mexico that has created a system that allows women in
Teotitlán del Valle to obtain a micro-finance loan, take business classes and offers free English classes to the
community. En Vía helps its participants build and or maintain successful businesses through their microfinance loans they provide by means of ecotourism. The way in which En Vía operates is an example of a
highly successful model for non-profit systems due to their high pay back rate. I am conducting this research
by spending time with the women in the village who are receiving loans and I am in contact with the
administration of En Vía. I will demonstrate the ways in which Fundación en Vía has created a successful
finance program for the women in Teotitlán with the combination of their English language program and how
it can serve as a model for other non-profits.
60. Ethnographic Study on Hip Hop in Richmond
Chanell Noise, Depts. of Sociology and African American Studies, with Dr. Vivian Dzokoto, Dept. of African
American Studies
This ethnographic study on Hip Hop in Richmond aims to answer the question: What is Hip Hop in
Richmond, Virginia like? Like many other locales (Atlanta, Toronto, New York, Cape Town, et cetera)
Richmond has its own distinct way in which Hip Hop is consumed as an art form and created as a culture.
Answering this question allows some of the complexities of this far-reaching and newly diversified sub-culture
to come to light. Using literature authored by H. Samy Alim and other well-versed Hip Hop or Black Studies
scholars, I created a coding system that would identify words and/or phrases that corresponded with the four
flavors of Hip Hop. The four flavors I chose are not exhaustive of how Hip Hop can exist or be interpreted, but
were chosen for relevance and time-efficiency. I collected qualitative research via engaging in interviews with
Hip Hop arbiters and consumers, transcribed the interviews, decoded the data and concluded each interview
by noting the frequency of each flavor showing up in the interview. My data collection is done and I am in the
final stages of decoding and transcription. My data is leaning towards Richmond Hip Hop perpetuating
original themes (themes of the South Bronx, deindustrialization and being black) while also largely being a
genre-less or more artistic expression of oneself. Based on my results I have and what I expect to see, I
conclude that Hip Hop in Richmond is comprised of artists, dancers and engineers looking to break rules.
This holds with the growing trend in the city to patronize and celebrate art and artistry in physical forms. This
study also makes clear the malleability of Hip Hop as an art form and the far reach of Hip Hop as a culture.
61. Ancient Egyptian Figurines: An Investigation into Manufacture, Use, and Culture.
Kristina Donnally, Dept. of Anthropology, with Dr. Bernard Means, Dept. of Anthropology
I will analyze the social and religious role of figurines in Egyptian society. I will delve into the
differences in the figurines in both manufacture and purpose between the Old, Middle, and New Kingdoms. I
hope to look at religious, political, and other figurines to get a broad spectrum of usage for the artifacts. The
main purpose of the research is to identify the time period, purpose, and usage for the figure donated to VCU
by Professor Waybright. Questions I have is if the changes in political structure and minute changes in
religion between each Kingdom affected the manufacture and use of figurines. Another question is to see if
there are any significant differences in the religious figurines during periods of religious conflict such as the
Amarna Period.
62. Pro-inflammatory Macrophage Activation Induced by Exposure to Hyper Gravity
Cristian Coriano, Dept. of Biomedical Engineering, with Dr. Rene Olivares-Navarrete, Dept. of Biomedical
Engineering
Introduction: Microgravity has been shown to suppress immune response in space, leaving the body more
susceptible to infection. Activation and proper function of immune cells, specifically macrophages, is essential
for the protection and function of the body. In this study we aim to determine the effect of increased
gravitational forces on macrophage activation. Methods: To simulate increased gravity cells were centrifuged
at varying levels of rotational gforces (xg). RAW 264.7 cells were centrifuged at 50xg, 100xg, and 300xg for 5
cycles of 10 minutes spinning followed by rest and compared to control cells. Changes in macrophage
activation were measured by quantitative polymerase-chain reaction (PCR) for markers of pro- (Il1b, Il6, Tnf)
and anti- (Tgfb1, Il10, Retnla) inflammatory genes expressed by cells immediately after exposure to hyper
gravity (unplated) and after 24 hours of culture (plated). Gene expression results were then confirmed by
enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) quantification of proteins (pro: IL1β, IL6, TNFα, and anti: IL4,
IL10) released from cells 24 hours after g-force exposure. PCR (n=3) results displayed as ΔΔCT over control
and Gapdh and ELISA (n=6) normalized to DNA levels. Differences were determined by one-way ANOVA with
Tukey (α=0.05) comparison between groups. Results: In both PCR and ELISA there was a clear trend of
increased pro- and decreased antiinflammatory markers as the exposure to rotational g-forces increased. An
increase in antiinflammatory gene expression is measured at 50xg, which then decreased as the rotational
gforce increased. Overall, unplated cells showed the greatest fold regulation of pro-inflammatory genes
compared to control, while plated cells were able to somewhat recover. Conclusions: The results from these
studies demonstrated a strong effect of hyper gravity on macrophage activation. The immediate implication is
that this reaction occurs every time cells are pelleted. However, if pelleting is consistent within groups at
300xg the change will be negligible. Next steps in this study may be to assess the effect of increased g-forces
on macrophage function through phagocytic intake. Increased immune activation with hyper gravity may lead
to a method to be applied as a therapeutic means to treat an immuno-suppressed being. Figure 1: Fold
regulation of pro- (IL1B, IL6, and TNF) and anti- (Tgfb1, Il10, Retnla) inflammatory factors of RAW264.7 cells
immediately (unplated) following exposure to increased g-forces and following 24
63. SETTLER-COLONIAL/DECOLNIAL VIOLENCE, INDIGINOUS POWER, AND POLTICAL
EDUCATION IN RHYMES FOR YOUNG GHOULS
Noah Mullinax, Depts. of English and Philosophy, with Dr. Cristina Stanciu, Dept. of English
First Nations director Jeff Barnaby's 2013 film, Rhymes for Young Ghouls follows Aila, a young First Nations
woman dealing with the suicide of her mother and the incarceration of her father, while also trying to avoid
being sent to Indian boarding school. At the same time, the Indian Agent targets and threatens Aila and her
family, exacerbating the difficulties of life on the reservation, pushing Aila and her friends to retake what has
been stolen from them by breaking into the boarding school. By focusing on the analysis of violence, informed
by clinical psychological research, cultural studies, history, and revolutionary theory, this presentation draws
pertinent distinctions between colonial violence as a means toward domination and decolonial violence as a
means toward Indigenous self-determination. An analysis rooted in a decolonial approach allows us to read
the film as form of political education and personal reflection on the history we are living. This presentation
will focus on interpreting the film through a literary and political lens, arguing that a viewing of the film
creates a space for viewers to approach the history of settler-colonialism. Specifically, the film prompts us to
question how oppressive structures manifest themselves into person/intergenerational trauma, and how
Indigenous and First Nations communities—specifically Native women—maintain power in the face of physical
and structural violence. For example, Aila embodies a presence of mind through art as an ancestral tradition
and form of Native knowledge, enabling her to embody resilience in the face of racist and patriarchal brutality.
Each instance of pain we see in the film is a result of a complicated fabric of the colonial condition that
requires a particular acknowledgment from the viewer, that, once reflected upon, allows us to responsibility
understand the interwoven complexities of the film.
64. Comparing treatment differentiation and adherence instruments across two youth
anxiety treatments in community settings
Ruben G. Martinez, Ellie G. Wu, Connor P. Hicks, Stephanie Violante, Bryce D. McLeod, Michael A. SouthamGerow, Bruce F. Chorpita, & John R. Weisz, Dept. of Psychology
Background
Developing instruments to assess multiple components of treatment integrity is an important goal for
implementation science.1,2 The Therapy Process Observational Coding System - Revised Strategies scale
(TPOCS-RS)3 has been used to assess treatment differentiation (i.e., extent to which interventions outside a
model are delivered) in research and community settings4,5 with cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and usual
care. The TPOCS-RS was not specifically designed to assess treatment adherence (i.e., extent to which modelprescribed interventions are delivered) to a specific treatment protocol. However, the TPOCS-RS items cover
five broad theory-based domains (cognitive, behavioral, psychodynamic, client-centered, family), which allows
researchers to assess the extent to which interventions that are consistent and inconsistent with a treatment
protocol are delivered. Assessing the extent to which treatment differentiation and adherence tools overlap
could move the field toward the goal of reducing resources required to measure treatment integrity across
settings. Method The purpose of this study is to assess the relation between the TPOCS-RS and the CBT
Adherence Scale for Youth Anxiety (CBAY-A) when assessing therapeutic interventions delivered as part of
standard manual treatment (manualized treatments with prescribed order; SMT) and modular treatment (31
modules corresponding to SMT practices with no prescribed order; MT) for youth anxiety in community
settings.6,7 The CBAY-A is an observational coding system that measures adherence to SMT and MT. 8 This
study will use a sample of N = 603 recordings from N = 38 youths diagnosed with anxiety disorders.6,7 All
sessions were coded using the TPOCS-RS and the CBAY-A. Two TPOCS-RS subscales will be generated in
order to measure adherence to SMT and MT. 5 In addition, the two created TPOCS-RS subscales will be
compared to three existing TPOCS-RS subscales (Client-Centered, Family and Psychodynamic) and the
TPOCS-Alliance scale (TPOCS-A)9 to assess discriminant validity. Analytic plan Mean levels of adherence
and inter-rater reliability (ICCs) will be reported for the relevant TPOCS-RS and CBAY-A scales. Convergent
validity of the TPOCS-RS and the CBAY-A will be assessed by calculating Pearson’s r for the following
subscales: 1) CBAY-A and TPOCS-RS MT subscales in the MT sample, and 2) CBAY-A and TPOCS-RS SMT
subscales in the SMT sample. Pearson’s r will also be calculated at the overall level. Discriminant validity of
the MT and SMT subscales on the TPOCS-RS will be assessed by calculating Pearson’s r for the two generated
TPOCS-RS subscales (MT and SMT) and the following scales: TPOCS-RS Family, TPOCS-RS Psychodynamic,
TPOCS-RS Client-Centered and TPOCS-A. Learning objectives: 1. To discuss the overlap between treatment
differentiation and adherence tools 2. To further understand the psychometric properties of the TPOCS-RS 3.
To discuss future considerations in efficient treatment integrity measurement Keywords: Treatment
integrity, treatment adherence, treatment differentiation, psychometrics Stage of proposal: Data collected,
not analyzed Project implementation phase: Completed
65. Role of Desmosome and Nuclear LINC Complex Forces in Cardiomyocytes
Nicole R. Duggan1, UROP Summer Research Fellow, Paul T. Arsenovic1, Daniel E. Conway1 1Department of
Biomedical Engineering, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia 23284
Introduction: Genetic mutations in both desmosomal and nuclear LINC complex proteins result in
cardiomyopathies. However, the role of these cytosketal-connected structures in cardiomyocytes is not well
understood. We sought to use dominant negative proteins to decouple desmosomes and the LINC complex
from the cytoskeleton to determine the importance of mechanical forces across these structures.
Materials and Methods: Cardiomyocytes derived from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) were purchased
from Cellular Dynamics. These cells spontaneously beat and are therefore a useful model to study forces on
both desmosomes and the nuclear LINC complex. Cardiomyocytes were cultured on glass bottom dishes
suitable for fluorescent live cell imaging. Adenovirus was used to express dominant negative (DN) KASH to
decouple the nuclear LINC complex from the cytoskeleton or dominant negative desmoplakin (DP-NTP) to
decouple desmosomes from intermediate filaments.
Results and Discussion: Cardiomyocytes expressing DP-NTP and DN-KASH exhibited altered movement
when compared to control cells. To quantify this movement cells were stained with Hoechst to label nuclei,
and nuclei were tracked using high speed wide field fluorescence microscopy. The frequency of nuclei
movement was higher for both DP-NTP (Figure 2) and DN-KASH (Figure 3) than control cells (Figure 1), with
the highest frequency for DN-KASH. We are currently using force biosensors to measure the mechanical
forces exerted across desmosome and LINC complex proteins.
Conclusions: Decoupling desmosomes or the LINC complex from the cytoskeleton alters the beat frequency
and nuclei movement in cardiomyocytes. These results support the hypothesis that mechanical forces
through desmosomes and the LINC complex are important regulators of cardiomyocyte physiology.
66. Trenches and Tribulations
Adam Blakemore, Dept. of Anthropology, with Dr. Bernard Means, Dept. of Anthropology
This poster intends to delineate the state of Public Archaeology, as well as its importance in creating
relationships between archaeologists and the public. With an increase in social media and a new level of
transparency for the public, studies need to be done in how best to connect with and disseminate
archaeological data to the interested public, as well as those who don’t know they should be interested. I
expect to find a connection between posting data on social media sites like Instagram and Twitter, and an
increased level of interest from the public. There may be a lack of data, would could make some of this
research difficult, but I expect to be able to draw some conclusions.
67. The Public's Perception of Archaeology
Diana Salazar, Dept. of Anthropology, with Dr. Bernard Means, Dept. of Anthropology
Today, exotic locations have always been a big attraction among the public which often becomes
entertainment in the form of film, literature, or exhibits. This is mainly due to the acts of archaeologists who
travel to discovery the several wonders of different cultures that many would not have the time to see
themselves. However, there are always problems and issues when it comes to accurately portraying cultures
that are not commonly known to others. This poster aims to discuss the influence of archaeology among the
public’s perception of dissimilar cultures, especially in reference to the Luxor Casino’s King Tut Exhibit. The
direction will focus on how and why archaeology influences the public, how the public viewed the Egyptians,
how accurate the Casino replicated the tomb of King Tut in Luxor, Egypt, and possible solutions in correctly
informing the public about exotic locations.
68. Figures and Ornaments: Art of the Iroquoian Peoples
Ben Snyder, Dept. of Anthropology, with Dr. Bernard Means, Dept. of Anthropology
This research will look into the artistic products of Iroquoian speaking peoples over the years, with a special
focus on the early colonial era. Some background on who the Iroquois are and their history will be given, as
well as on their material culture specifically. Folklore, mythology, and other narratives and potential
meanings will be examined in relation to the art and especially figural representations. It will be seen how
various objects would have been used through people’s lives, and the ideas and motivations involved in them.
This will all be done in the context of looking toward recent discussions on how American Indian art should
be seen and the importance of the living traditions that represent it today.
69. Predicting outcome of cardiac arrest patients undergoing induced hypothermia through
observing alterations in metabolite compositions
Kyle Gilley, Dept. of Biology, with Dr. Dayanjan Wijesinghe, Department of Pharmacotherapy and Outcomes
Sciences. Dr. Mary Ann Peberdy, Department of Internal Medicine
Metabolite changes in the body brought on by cardiac arrest can provide significant insight to the subsequent
complication among patients. As such, they could prove helpful towards instituting a more targeted treatment
of the patient through personalization of care. The need for personalized care for cardiac arrest patients is
critical as damage to the body from oxygen deprivation, specifically the brain, and the speed in which care
and proper resuscitation efforts were performed varies greatly from patient to patient. By measuring and
detecting metabolomic changes, biologic pathways critical for survival can be identified and targeted in an
effort to improve patient’s long-term outcomes. Induced hypothermia is a hospital procedure used in which
the core body temperature is lowered to approximately 33°C, and it is recommended in cardiac arrest patients
to improve survivability. This study focused on analyzing metabolomic changes in the patient’s plasma at
three different time intervals: Once the patient is admitted to the hospital (T1), after hypothermic therapy is
administered (T2), and once the patient’s core temperature is brought back to normal (T3).
70. Oncolytic Poliovirotherapy of Glioblastoma:
Sadaf Kolia, VCU Honors College, Dept. of Biology, with Prof. Mary Boyes, VCU Honors College
Glioblastomas stem from astrocytes that comprise the supportive tissue of the brain and are regarded as one
of the most aggressive types of tumors of the central nervous system. While surgical resection, chemotherapy,
and radiation are viable treatment options readily prescribed today, prognoses remain dismal and survival
rates rarely surpass one year. Recently, researchers have directed their efforts towards improving oncolytic
virotherapy and have conducted numerous clinical trials with different viruses in order to study the
antineoplastic and immune-stimulatory properties of oncolytic viruses. Specific attention has been given to
poliovirus recombinant, PVS(RIPO) and its ability to effectively bind to and lyse glioma cells as well as induce
an anti-tumor immune response. In this review, I studied the relationship between expression levels of cellsurface adhesion molecule, CD155, poliovirus binding rate, and subsequent immune response by analyzing
published studies on the effect of CD155 on the efficacy of oncolytic poliovirotherapy. The results of the
studies I analyzed indicate a positive correlation between expression levels of CD155 and glioma growth,
migration rate, and migration distance. However, greater levels of CD155 expression also resulted in an
increased affinity of glioblastomas for poliovirus and lead to increased immunogenic cell death (ICD), which
then produced an inflammatory, anti-tumor immune response, thus resulting in further ICD. These results
imply that while increased rates of CD155 expression may correlate with faster rates of tumor cell migration
to greater distances, if poliovirotherapy is being utilized as a treatment plan, upregulating CD155 molecules
on the surface of glioblastoma cells would prove beneficial as more CD155 raises the overall rate of tumor
ICD, stimulates an antineoplastic immune response, and ultimately improves the effectiveness of oncolytic
treatment.
71. STIMULATING CREATIVITY THROUGH MINDFULNESS PRACTICES WITHIN THE
INFORMATION SYSTEMS CURRICULUM
Nibal El-Aridi, Dept. of Information Systems, with Ginny Ross and Dr. Elena Olson, Dept. of Information Systems
Mindfulness has become an increasingly important practice established within workplaces to stimulate
creativity and organizational awareness. Mindfulness is referred to as the process of engaging in the present
and being aware of your surroundings to raise levels of focus (Batalo, 2012). Due to the increase in complexity
of IT use, mindfulness has specifically become prominent in the field of information technology and computer
science to counteract hypersensitive technical environments. High-reliability organizations, such as air traffic
control systems, naval aircraft carriers, and nuclear power operations, are critically dependent on seamless IT
performance since the slightest technology or system error can send the organization to a crumble.
Organizations as such are required to respond to potential threats by sustaining high levels of mindfulness
(Valorinta, 2009). IT leaders within these organizations are engaging in mindful practices to improve their
managerial conduct. This mindful engagement by leaders can spur IT innovation within one’s organization to
reveal dynamic perspectives in workplace performance and decision making (Lu, 2010). In this paper, we
research various technology organizations to recognize, classify, and rank the use and impact that mindful
practices have on the organization. By analyzing the behaviors of the organization’s technology leaders and
current industry cultures, we look to identify the best practices that help technology organizations maintain
sustainable levels of mindfulness. The identified practices will be incorporated into the environments of
Information Systems classrooms to aid the students in developing cognitive skills necessary in preparation of
the future IT leader’s career track within modern organizational cultures. The increase of mindful practices by
Information Systems students is expected to increase their perceptions of creativity and tendencies to learn in
their educational curriculum and long-term professional career (Lourenço, 2011). REFERENCES: Batalo, M.
(2012). Creativity and Mindfulness (Doctoral dissertation). ERIC Institute of Education Sciences. ED547198
Lourenço, F., & Jayawarna, D. (2011). Enterprise education: The effect of creativity on training outcomes.
International Journal of Entrepreneurial Behavior & Research, 17(3), 224-244.
doi:10.1108/13552551111130691 Lu, Y., & Ramamurthy, K. (2010). Proactive or reactive IT leaders? A test of
two competing hypotheses of IT innovation and environment alignment. European Journal of Information
Systems, 19(5), 601-618. doi:10.1057/ejis.2010.36 Valorinta, M. (2009). Information technology and
mindfulness in organizations. Industrial and Corporate Change, 18(5), 963-997. doi:10.1093/icc/dtp027
72. Evaluation of Social Networking Sites as Applicant-Screening Tools for Human
Resources Professionals
Caroline Clary, VCU Honors College, Business Administration, with Prof. Mary Boyes, VCU Honors College
Social networking has taken the Internet by storm with a multitude of platforms from which to choose, and
human resources professionals are anxious to explore the potential of these sites as strategic screening
mechanisms in order to maximize the value of their human capital and thus increase corporate profitability
and sustainability. Personal social media accounts offer employers a wealth of information about each
individual applicant, opening a window into a prospective employee’s private life far beyond anything that can
be viewed as job related. As a result, businesses may find that selecting the best and brightest talent based on
social media screenings as a component of the hiring process often collides with current legislation, corporate
image, and views on corporate ethics. In spite of these findings, companies continue to forge ahead with their
use of social networking sites for applicant screening purposes; however, research and judicial rulings are
currently lagging behind, making it difficult for employers seeking a sense of direction in the use of this new
applicant screening strategy. Through an examination of current, peer-reviewed research and government
publications, this study promotes informed decision-making through the analysis of current benefits as well
as challenges associated with the use of social media sites in applicant screening, and provides guidance for
companies wanting to incorporate its use into their screening protocols. Until social media screening is more
fully evaluated and established, employers should minimize its use, and at the very least, exercise due
diligence in developing policy and structured protocols that are clearly founded in job relatedness.
73. Stress reactive heart rate variability and cortisol response in adolescent and young adult
monozygotic twins discordant for lifetime major depression
Bijal Rajput, VCU Honors College, Dept. of Biology, with Dr. Roxanne Roberson-Nay, Dept. of Psychiatry
Reduced heart rate variability (HRV) has been associated with major depressive disorder (MDD) and is a
useful marker and predictor of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Depressed males have a higher
cardiovascular morbidity and mortality rate than depressed females, suggesting there could be a difference in
HRV between genders. Depression has also been found to be associated with blunted cortisol reactivity, a
measure of the hypothalamic pituitary adrenal (HPA) axis stress response. This study aims to 1) examine
differences in HRV and cortisol reactivity among adolescent monozygotic (MZ) twins discordant for a history of
MDD and 2) examine gender differences in HRV among those a history of MDD. Participants include 110
adolescent pairs of MZ twins between the ages of 15-20. HRV was measured 5 minutes before and after
participants were subjected to the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST), a laboratory paradigm designed to induce
stress through a public speaking task and serial subtraction. Cortisol was measured prior to and four times
following the TSST. For Aim 1, the study will use a discordant MZ twin design, in which differences in prepost HRV and cortisol reactivity will be compared. Aim 2 will compare pre-post HRV between depressed male
and female twins. We predict that twins with a history of MDD will exhibit lower HRV and blunted cortisol
reactivity compared to their MDD unaffected co-twins and, furthermore, that depressed males will have lower
HRV than depressed females. Results will identify utility of HRV and cortisol as diagnostic validators of MDD
history.
74. Petersburg Urban Farming System
Quinton Batts, Dept. of Interdisciplinary Studies, with Prof. Mary Shelden, VCU University College
The project I am proposing is a sustainable urban farming system that I believe can benefit the City of
Petersburg and help rebuild and revitalize the local communities. My vision is create a urban farming system
around the community with greenhouses positioned strategically in local neighborhoods around the city
making the food more accessible and easier to transport. I want Petersburg to become what it once was a
thriving historical city that is also transformational in local sustainability. The greenhouses will only use
aeroponic growing systems that’s will cut down on water consumption and the use of dirt. This will produce
fresh healthy produce all year round no matter the season making this a very profitable opportunity for the
city. I have seen first hand from my community partner how powerful community gardens are how the
concept could help bring together local communities and also help raise funds for the city giving power back
to the people in Petersburg, Virginia. The city has been hit with many trials and tribulations from financial
troubles to politics. I want to see something positive given to my hometown to give them a sense of home and
something to build upon.
75. Using Augmented Reality to Explore the Relationship Between the Physical and the
Metaphysical
Bethany Allen, UROP Summer Research Fellow, Dept. of Sculpture and Extended Media, with Prof. Matthew
Warren, Dept. of Photography and Film
The purpose of this project was to determine ways that augmented reality could be used with art to challenge
how we think about perception, space, the qualities of objects, and other inquiries in the metaphysical. AR technology
raises questions about how we define space and how that definition may need to adapt to advancements in both
technology and our understanding of the world. The experience of AR can create a beautiful and easily illustrated
metaphor about these things. The goal was to create such an experience by making a book of images that have
corresponding AR imagery which can be viewed through an application on a smartphone. The beginning of the process
involved creating the images for the book and altering them until they were recognizable by the program that would
initiate the AR imagery. The overall approach was to experiment with and manipulate both the 2D images and the 3D
imagery until a satisfactory visual and conceptual relationship was developed between them. Upon completion of the
work, we found that our interactions with and responses to the book and app provoked the questions we were aiming
for.
76. Developing Functionalized Nanofibers for Hazardous Chemical Detection
Jessica Corson, VCU Honors College, Dept. of Chemical and Life Sciences Engineering, with Dr. Christina Tang,
Dept. of Chemical and Life Sciences Engineering
Chemical warfare is a prevalent approach of attack in the current combat environment. Common
chemical weapon agents are organophosphates like Tabun, Sarin, Soman, and VX, which function as
neurotoxins, leading to loss of muscle control and death. Currently, soldiers are able to detect these
organophosphates with handheld detection devices and color-changing paper; however, the devices are
cumbersome and temperature/humidity sensitive while the paper fails in water and may indicate false
positives. The purpose of this research is to address the current problems in portable organophosphate
detection. Our approach is to couple nanofibers that change color as pH changes with an enzymatic
degradation of organophosphates to produce an acidic byproduct. pH responsive nanofibers are achieved by
incorporating polyaniline (PANI), a pH sensitive, color-changing polymer. Enzymatic degredation is achieved
by immobilizing organophosphate hydrolase. Currently, we are using atrazine chlorohydrolase (enzyme) to
detect atrazine, an herbicide, as a model system. Nanofibers that change from blue to green in the presence
of HCl vapor have been achieved by both embedding PANI within cross-linked polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)
nanofibers and grafting PANI to the surface of nylon nanofibers. Comparing the two color changing fabrics,
PANI/PVA changes color more quickly and noticeably than PANI on nylon. Specifically, when exposed to 2nM
HCl vapors, PANI/PVA changed color from blue to green after 20 seconds while PANI on nylon changed color
from blue to blue-green after 50 seconds. We attribute the difference to increased PANI specific surface area
when encapsulated compared to grafted on the fiber surface. The next step is to immobilize protein using the
PANI-containing nanofibers as supports. We are currently investigating the activity of immobilized enzyme.
77.
SKINTRONICS: Wireless, Skin-Wearable Electronics for Monitoring of Electrocardiogram
Matthew Piper, Dept. of Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering, with Dr. Hong Yeo, Dept. of Mechanical and
Nuclear Engineering
“Skintronics” is a project that covers multiple different facets. The portion of the project I work on is
the microfabrication of Electrocardiography devices, ECGs. The ECGs I fabricate are designed to be flexible,
stretchable and wireless circuits that can be applied to the skin directly. The device is encased in a
conformal, silicon-like substance, called Eco-flex, that allows the ECG to be packaged with the electrodes.
Each electrode has been previously measured and verified that it will fall in the correct placement needed for
a reading. Prototyping this ECG/electrode combination allows the user or doctor to mount the prototype
directly to the patient without having to plug-in and attach ten electrodes. This prototype solves the issue
that comes about when a doctor, nurse or emergency medical technician must attach a traditional 12-lead
ECG that requires sufficient knowledge and experience required to place every electrode accurately and
precisely in order to achieve an accurate reading. In my fabricated device, the ECG is wired directly to the
three most crucial electrodes placed at V2, V3 and V4 based on the traditional precordial electrode placement
for a 12-lead ECG. By covering these three positions, my research team and I can ensure we achieve an
accurate reading, and will not have to struggle to find the correct placement due to the compact design of preplaced electrodes. Another benefit of this new prototype is its flexibility. This allows the circuit to be more
durable when being picked-up, transferred to the patient, and then removed; this may also allow for multiple
applications whereas conventional electrodes can only be used once. This prototype is currently in the
preliminary stages of testing and will hopefully be implemented into medical practice in the future.
78. Characterization of a putative hemolysin expressed by Sneathia amnii, a preterm birthassociated pathogen
Lizette Carrasco1, Amy Sanford2, Erin Garcia2, Kimberly Jefferson2
Departments of Biology1, and Microbiology and Immunology2, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond,
Virginia, USA.
The gram-negative bacterium Sneathia amnii is a poorly-characterized commensal of the female urogenital
tract frequently associated with adverse clinical outcomes such as bacterial vaginosis (BV), amnionitis, and
preterm labor. To investigate its potential role in virulence, we sought to identify and characterize virulence
determinants produced by S. amnii in an effort to better understand the pathogenesis of infectious preterm
birth. Through sequencing of the Sn35 genome (type strain of S. amnii), we identified two genes with amino
acid sequence similarity and structural similarity to the filamentous hemagglutinin (FHA) protein of
Bordetella pertussis and its Type Vb autotransporter. Because S. amnii requires human blood components for
growth and lyses human red blood cells, we hypothesized that this two-partner system was involved in
hemolysis. To characterize the function of the FHA-like protein, a purified, recombinant peptide was used to
induce an antibody response. The polyclonal rabbit serum against the antigenic peptide was incubated with
S. amnii to block the FHA-like protein prior to the addition of red blood cells. Pre-treatment with the
antiserum inhibited hemolytic activity against human erythrocytes suggesting that the FHA-like protein is
somehow involved in hemolysis. Additionally, we found that the hemolytic activity of S. amnii was highly
specific against human red blood cells; it did not lyse horse or rabbit red blood cells and only minimally lysed
sheep red blood cells. Further research efforts will focus on purifying functional FHA-like protein for further
characterization and to determine whether it is sufficient to induce hemolysis.
79. Early Adolescents' Perceptions about the Practicality and Relevance of the Second Step
Youth Violence Prevention Lessons on Emotion Management
Cheyenne Johnson, Alyssa Bulan, Antoinette Waller, Dept. of Psychology, with Dr. Terri Sullivan, Dept. of
Psychology
Second Step is a youth violence prevention program intended to promote positive social and emotional
development among youth. It uses age-appropriate methods to explain coping and decision-making skills to
support youth through common difficulties many go through at their age, such as peer pressure and
bullying. Some studies have assessed this program's effectiveness in preventing youth violence (e.g.,
Espelage, Low, Polanin, & Brown, 2013), but little research has focused on student’s evaluation of the
practicality and relevance of the skills learned (see Farrell, Mehari, Mays, Sullivan & Le, 2015 for an
exception). This study examined students’ perception of the relevance and practicality of Second Step skills
for emotion management by interviewing middle school students about their experiences. A total of 74
students from an urban public school participated, and most students identified themselves as AfricanAmerican (97.5%). A total of 75.6% of students reported that they had used emotion management skills
taught in the program to deal with problematic situations. Of those students, 55.4% reported this skill as
working favorably for them, and 6.8% reported that this skill did not work favorably for them. For students
who used this skill, 55.4% reported being confident in using it, while 6.8% reported that they did not feel
confident applying this skill. Of the students who did not use this skill, 9.5% said they felt “pretty” or “very”
confident that they could use the skill, and 2.8% said they felt “not at all” or “not very” confident using the
skill. Qualitative analyses will be presented that describe why students did not use the skill, how well it
worked if the skill was applied, and factors that made it easier or harder for students to implement the skill.
Implications of the study findings will be discussed.
80. "I know he only wants the best for me" : A Qualitative Exploration of the Relationship
Between African-American or Mixed-Race Youth and Natural Mentors
McKenzie Stokes, Depts. of Psychology and African-American Studies; Research conducted with the University
of Virginia Summer Undergraduate Research Program
Objectives: To utilize data from a longitudinal study investigating the development, characteristics, and
influence of non-parental youth-adult relationships (YARs) across contexts over key transition points during
adolescence. Specifically, with the intent to better understand how African-American and mixed-race youth
perceive relationships with their natural mentors (VIPs) and other significant persons in their lives.
Methods. The current project employs a qualitative design, in which a case study of eight minority youth was
performed. This investigation was guided by two soft research questions: 1) How do African-American and
Mixed-race youth perceive relationships with their natural mentors? and 2) What types of social support do
these youth favor from significant adults? The larger research team had already utilized Dedoose to code for
five forms of social support: companionship, emotional, instrumental, informational, and validation (Wills
&amp; Shinar, 2000). In addition they also systematically coded for other variables such as frequency of
contact and quality of interaction. All of the aforementioned codes and more guided thematic analyses of the
interview transcripts to complete the overall case study.
Results. Data revealed that African-American and Mixed-race youth emphasized variables of distance, in-vivo
closeness, and shared experiences as factors that contributed to their relationships with their natural
mentors. More specifically, African-American participants expressed that frequency of contact, quality of
interaction, and adult initiation were what helped them develop and maintain relationships with their
VIP. These findings are interesting in comparison to youth of mixed-race who explained that length of time
known and youth initiation is what made their relationships to their VIP and other significant adults
meaningful.
Conclusions. Findings illustrate how African-American and biracial youth in this sample perceive
relationships with their natural mentors, and further our understanding of what helps to foster such bonds. It
is important to note that this design was a qualitative case-study and in no way should be generalized to
larger groups of people. However, this work should be a reference point for future larger studies seeking to
investigate the relationships between minority youth and relationships with natural mentors.
81. Evaluating Feature Extraction Methods for Biomedical WSD
Clint Cuffy, Dept. of Computer Science, with Dr. Bridget McInnes, Dept. of Computer Science
Introduction.
Biomedical text processing is currently a high active research area but ambiguity is
still a barrier to the processing and understanding of these documents. Many word sense disambiguation
(WSD) approaches represent instances of an ambiguous word as a distributional context vector. One problem
with using these vectors is noise -- information that is overly general and does not contribute to the word’s
representation. Feature extraction approaches attempt to compensate for sparsity and reduce noise by
transforming the data from high-dimensional space to a space of fewer dimensions. Currently, word
embeddings [1] have become an increasingly popular method to reduce the dimensionality of vector
representations. In this work, we evaluate word embeddings in a knowledge-based word sense disambiguation
method.
Methods. Context requiring disambiguation consists of an instance of an ambiguous word, and multiple
denotative senses. In our method, each word is replaced with its respective word embedding and either
summed or averaged to form a single instance vector representation. This also is performed for each sense of
an ambiguous word using the sense’s definition obtained from the Unified Medical Language System (UMLS).
We calculate the cosine similarity between each sense and instance vectors, and assign the instance the sense
with the highest value.
Evaluation. We evaluate our method on three biomedical WSD datasets: NLM-WSD, MSH-WSD and Abbrev.
The word embeddings were trained on the titles and abstracts from the 2016 Medline baseline. We compare
using two word embedding models, Skip-gram and Continuous Bag of Words (CBOW), and vary the word
vector representational lengths, from one-hundred to one-thousand, and compare differences in accuracy.
Results. The overall outcome of this method demonstrates fairly high accuracy at disambiguating biomedical
instance context from groups of denotative senses. The results showed the Skip-gram model obtained a higher
disambiguation accuracy than CBOW but the increase was not significant for all of the datasets. Similarly,
vector representations of differing lengths displayed minimal change in results, often differing by mere tenths
in percentage. We also compared our results to current state-of-the-art knowledge-based WSD systems,
including those that have used word embeddings, showing comparable or higher disambiguation accuracy.
Conclusion. Although biomedical literature can be ambiguous, our knowledge-based feature extraction
method using word embeddings demonstrates a high accuracy in disambiguating biomedical text while
eliminating variations of associated noise. In the future, we plan to explore additional dimensionality
reduction methods and training data.
[1] T. Mikolov, I. Sutskever, K. Chen, G. Corrado and J. Dean, "Distributed representations of words and
phrases and their compositionality," Advances in neural information processing systems, pp. 3111-3119, 2013.
82. Nanoparticle Named Entity Recognition
Megan Charity, Bridget T. McInnes, PhD, Nastassja A. Lewinski, PhD, Dept. of Computer Science
Introduction: The solutions and discovery of the combination of certain nanoparticle characteristics can be
easily overlooked. Thousands of other published articles and journals with similar topics can drown out this
beneficial information. To identify these characteristics without having to manually annotate each and every
article ever created relating to nanoparticles, a named entity recognition program was created that aimed to
develop a model that can automatically identify the nanoparticle characteristics within the article’s text. The
program examines the properties of the individual words and their relations to other words within the text in
order to establish a pattern.
Method: A binary vector was created for each individual word representing their orthographic, morphological,
lexical, syntactic, and semantic features of themselves and adjacent words. These vectors were processed
through the machine learning package WEKA using the support vector machine learning algorithm. The
algorithm was evaluated using 5-fold cross validation and reported the precision, recall, and f-measure . We
compared our results to a majority label baseline - the precision you would receive if you labeled everything
the majority label.
Data: We evaluated our method on the END database which consisted of 42 drug FDA labels. The dataset was
manually annotated by chemical and life science students who identified 16 nanoparticle characteristics (e.g.
surface coating, adverse reaction).
Results: We evaluated the 16 nanoparticle characteristics for each feature type. Overall, the precision, recall,
and f-measure increased as additional features were added. Characteristics that contained more instances
were more likely to exceed the majority sense baseline with fewer features being analyzed. However, every
characteristic obtained a higher precision than the majority sense baseline.
Conclusion: Incorporating the orthographic, morphological, lexical, syntactic, and semantic features
increased the overall f-measure of the entity extraction system. These results show that looking at different
properties of text can help to identify and find a pattern between words and key features of nanoparticles.
83. Variability in Skeletal Muscle Fiber Type and Size after Spinal Cord Injury
Quincy Fotis1,2, Laura O’Brien2,3, Ashraf S. Gorgey2,4
1 Kinesiology
and Health Sciences, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23249, USA
Spinal Cord Injury and Disorders Center, Hunter Holmes McGuire VAMC, 1201 Broad Rock Boulevard,
Richmond, VA 23249, USA
2
3
Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23249, USA
4 Department
of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23249,
USA
Objective: Skeletal muscle consists of two types of muscle fibers, slow and fast twitch. Type 1 fibers are also
known as slow-twitch fibers, while fast twitch fibers can be distinguished into two groups, fast twitch
glycolytic (Type IIx) and fast twitch oxidative (Type IIa). Individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI) often exhibit
dramatic muscle atrophy below the level of injury and a predominance of type II fibers. The purpose of this
study was to measure cross sectional area (CSA) and fiber type in individuals with SCI.
Methods: Muscle biopsy samples of the vastus lateralis were obtained from twenty-two men with chronic SCI
as part of a clinical trial (NCT01652040). Histochemical staining of myofibrillar actomyosin ATPase was
performed to determine fiber type. Images were analyzed on the NIH software ImageJ. Muscle fibers were
individually traced to determine CSA and optical density (OD). Fibers were identified by OD, with type I
having the highest OD followed by IIx and IIa. The mean range in OD units was 0.37-0.58, 0.50-0.75, and
0.78-1.51 for type IIa, IIx, and I fibers, respectively. The overlap between IIa and IIx was due to poor
image/fiber quality.
Results: The majority of individuals (77%) expressed >90% type II fibers. Individuals under age 40 had a
greater percentage of type I and IIx fibers than older individuals but there was no difference in fiber CSA.
There was no difference in fiber type between paraplegics and tetraplegics. However, paraplegics had a greater
fiber CSA than tetraplegics.
Conclusion: These findings suggest that there is a predominance of type II fibers after SCI. Younger
individuals had a greater percentage of type I fibers independent of level of injury. An exercise training
program such as resistance training may result in a shift from type IIx to IIa. This would result in a muscle
that is less susceptible to fatigue and muscle damage in individuals with SCI.
84. The Attenuating Effects of Mindfulness on State Shame and Guilt
Matthew Miera, Dept. of Psychology, with Jaclyn Moloney and Dr. Jeffery Green, Dept. of Psychology
Shame and guilt are negative affective states that are generally triggered by ‘moral lapses’, or a failure to
uphold a moral standard, thus shame and guilt are often considered moral emotions. Shame and guilt are
rooted in a negative internal attribution following a perceived wrongdoing, however they differ in that shame
focuses on the global self, while guilt focuses on a specific behavior (Lewis, 1971). Mindfulness is “the state of
being attentive to and aware of what is taking place in the present” (Brown & Ryan, 2003, p. 822). Previous
research suggests that dispositional mindfulness may help individuals avoid negative affective states and
more effectively regulate emotions. Given previous findings, we predicted that individuals higher in trait
mindfulness would experience less state shame and guilt after an experimental manipulation than those
lower in trait mindfulness. We conducted a cross-sectional study that examined the effects of dispositional
mindfulness, as measured by scores on the FFMQ (Baer, Smith, Hopkins, Krietemeyer, & Toney, 2006) and
MAAS (Brown & Ryan, 2003), on feelings of guilt and shame after a guilt/shame induction. Participants (N =
200) were randomly assigned to either the experimental or control group; the experimental group was asked
to write for five minutes about a time when they had felt ashamed due to an interpersonal offense, while the
control group wrote about an ordinary day. All participants completed measures of dispositional mindfulness,
and state shame and guilt. To test our hypotheses, we ran separate linear regressions for guilt and shame for
those participants in the experimental condition. Both the MAAS and the FFMQ negatively predicted feelings
of shame, but did not significantly predict guilt. A multiple regression was run to control for each measure’s
individual effect on shame. When controlling for the FFMQ the MAAS still negatively predicted shame,
however when controlling for the MAAS there was no longer a significant effect of the FFMQ. Overall, the
results partially supported our hypotheses, mindfulness significantly predicted feelings of shame but did not
significantly predict feelings of guilt. Participants higher in mindfulness reported less shame after an
experimental induction than those lower in mindfulness. This research shows that mindfulness can
successfully predict discrete emotional states and highlights specific ways in which mindfulness may help
individuals avoid negative affective experiences.
Keywords: mindfulness, shame, guilt, moral emotions
85. Scripture Like a River: The Appeal of Modern Adult Catechetical Programs to Jungian
Psychological Preferences
Elise Ketch, VCU Honors College, Dept. of Communication Arts, with Prof. Faye Prichard, VCU Honors College
Catholics preach that their faith is for everyone, yet conversion candidates frequently drop from catechetical
programs that they sense ‘just aren’t for me.’ This perception of catechesis is not only detrimental to the
spiritual development of the student, but also discouraging to the spiritual director who must interpret what
intrinsic needs of the individual are not being fulfilled and provide supplements. This exemplifies the
weakness of modern adult catechetical programs in appeal and effectiveness towards all personalities.
Surveys measuring the personalities of active Roman Catholics through the Myers Briggs Type Indicator
report a consistent trend of non-participation by certain personality metagroupings across various forms of
adult religious education, ergo indicating failure of these ministries to engage with these personality types and
provide for their distinct needs. Moreover, analysis of catechetical ministry through Jungian theory makes
evident the psychological preferences that are neglected by specific models of catechesis. By understanding
the relationship between psychological preferences and effective catechesis, adult catechetical programs can
be better designed to fulfill these overlooked preferences and avoid bias towards common preferences.
Through investigation of the relationship between psychological preferences and the foundational elements of
catechesis such as forms of prayer, interpretation of scripture, and learning style, spiritual directors can
make recommendations that appeal to the needs of individuals holistically in their development of religious
attitudes. Following this model I dissect an acclaimed contemporary young adult catechetical program and
analyze it for personality bias. I then propose amendments to accommodate for the eight Jungian
psychological preferences, whose combined influences in turn can be analyzed to address the needs of
individuals. Furthermore, understanding the relationship of psychological preferences to religiosity will not
only assist the Catholic Church in designing catechetical programs that address students comprehensively,
but also will potentially assist her in evangelizing and better serving all people.
86. The Effects of Dietary Counseling and Nutritional Education on Patient Awareness and
Compliance
Quy-Hien R. Dang, UROP Summer Research Fellow, and Jenica L. Harrison, PhD, MT(ASCP), Dept. of Clinical
Lab Sciences
Background: Hemophilia A (HA) is an X-linked recessive inherited hemorrhagic disorder in which a
coagulation cofactor known as Factor VIII (FVIII) is deficient. In the clinical laboratory, mixing studies and
specific factor assays are two coagulation tests that are used to aid in the diagnosis of bleeding disorders such
as HA. Study Objective: The objective of this study was to develop and test mixing study and factor assay
protocols for the assessment of FVIII activity in human plasma. This project also aimed to establish protocols
that can be used to demonstrate the benefits and practical use of advanced hemostasis testing to junior level
Clinical Laboratory Sciences (CLS) students at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU). Moreover, this
project aimed to foster the undergraduate student researcher’s appreciation for and exposure to laboratory
research. Methods: In this study, the activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) assay was employed in
order to evaluate the activity of FVIII in human plasma. Manufacturer provided assay controls were used in
the initial part of this study in order to determine the suitability of the STart®4 Analyzer for performing APTT
assays. Next, a 1:1 ratio mixing study protocol using with assay controls, pooled normal human plasma
(PNP), and FVIII deficient plasma was evaluated. Lastly, a factor assay protocol was assessed to determine the
level of FVIII activity in human plasma. Results: The initial phase of this study demonstrated that the STart®4
Analyzer is a suitable instrument to perform APTT assays. Both intra- and inter-assay precision were
performed in order to assess the performance characteristics of assay controls. The overall %CV for the
normal and positive controls were 0.6% and 1.4%, respectively, in the intra-assay precision assessment. The
overall %CV for the normal and positive controls were 1.8% and 2.3%, respectively, in the interassay precision
assessment. FVIII deficient plasma demonstrated a prolonged APTT of 121.2 seconds. When FVIII deficient
plasma was mixed at a 1:1 ratio with PNP, the prolonged APTT was corrected. The factor assay revealed that
the FVIII deficient plasma employed in this study had less than 1.48% FVIII activity. Conclusion: The results
show that the STart®4 Analyzer can be employed to test for coagulation abnormalities using mixing study and
factor assay protocols. In addition, using these protocols in the CLS student laboratory at VCU has the
potential to enhance students’ knowledge of hemostasis testing while serving to better prepare them for
clinical rotations. Lastly, this project served to help the undergraduate student researcher gain a deeper
understanding of advanced clinical laboratory assays used in the assessment of abnormal hemostasis. In
addition, the student researcher gained knowledge of how to test and write scientific protocols.
87. VIGoR - Visceral Indicators of Growth or Risk
Jaime McGinthy, BSN, RN, UROP Summer Research Fellow with Dr. Leigh Small, PhD, RN, CPNP-PC, FNAP,
FAANP, FAAN and Dr. Jamie Sturgill, PhD, VCU School of Nursing
Background: Excess body weight has been associated with poor health in children and adults and has been
linked to the development of several chronic illness processes. Central or abdominal obesity, reflecting the
presence of visceral adipose tissue and as evidenced by a larger than normal waist circumference, is a
significant predictor of cardiovascular disease (Rana et al., 2007). Abdominal obesity in 4-19-year-old
children has been found to be associated with initial endothelial dysfunction and vascular damage
(Hacihamdioglu et al., 2011), a first stage in the development of atherosclerosis, higher blood pressure,
insulin resistance, dyslipidemia (LDL cholesterol, triglycerides) and increasing circulating proinflammatory
peptides compared with children without abdominal obesity (Steinberger et al., 2009). However, it is unclear
if these inflammatory markers are significantly elevated in young children, those younger than 6 years, who
have visceral adiposity (waist circumference > 90th percentile) compared with children of the same age with
normal waist circumferences (25-89th percentile). Identification of an associations between inflammatory
markers and visceral adiposity in young children (4-8 years of age) may aid in early intervention in this
pediatric population. Methods: Children ages 4-8 years were recruited from the general pediatric outpatient
and pediatric endocrinology clinics at Virginia Commonwealth University Health (VCU Health). Eligible
children who were of normal weight (25th-85th BMI percentile) and obese (>85th BMI percentile) were enrolled
in this pilot study with their parents’ permission. Once enrolled, salivary specimens were collected along with
anthropometric assessments. Results: We were able to successfully enroll 44 children into the study. 39 had
a normal waist circumference (abdominal girth 25th - 89th percentile) and 5 with visceral adiposity
(abdominal girth >90th percentile). However given the difficulty enrolling obese children, salivary samples
have yet to be analyzed. Despite the small number of obese children into the study, we do observe significant
differences in both waist by height ratio and BMI. Conclusion: Given the significant public health impact
obesity has on the US population, further research in this field is warranted. We are seeing children in the
clinic with BMIs already in the obese range, thus intervening at a young age may prove effective however
recruiting children who fall into this category has proven a challenge. We plan to continue the study to recruit
more obese children so that adequate comparisons in terms of inflammatory markers can be made.
88. Preserving a Sense of Honor, Conscience, and Dignity during Medical School for the
Physician-Patient Relationship
Sameen Meshkin, UROP Summer Research Fellow, VCU Honors College, Dept. of Biology, with Dr. Susan
Bodnar-Deren, Dept. of Sociology
Despite a noble and dignified spirit that draws many to the practice of medicine, it has been observed through
encounters with a variety of physicians, regardless of specialty, that many doctors at some point in their
medical journey, become cynical and jaded. The importance of maintaining the sense of calling when viewing
the work of a physician as inherently noble, as affirmed in the Declaration of Geneva, is elucidated by Curlin
et al. (2006), as a deeply felt motivation for work that goes beyond the satisfaction of the worker’s material
and social needs. At some point in the physician’s training and/or practice, there is a movement away from
this motivation, in which the practitioner loses touch with the honor and noble traditions of their chosen
profession. There has been a small but growing body of research that has looked at the role of how religion
and spirituality (R/S) affect the physician’s attitudes in preserving the sacredness of the practice and
subsequent physician-patient interactions. Additionally, a number of medical institutions such as the George
Washington University (GW), have suggested changes to medical school curriculum to better incorporate the
notion of the sacred in medical practice. With this in mind, we conducted a thematic content analysis of the
VCU School of Medicine curricular materials to assess coherence to the best practice model put forth by The
GW Institute for Spirituality & Health. We additionally conducted a mixed-methods survey of medical
students’ underlying assumptions about how R/S and a sense of a higher calling affects the nature of the
physician-patient relationship. Preliminary analyses of the data reveal that among medical students, the
vision for their future work is of great importance to them and that this sense of a higher calling ought to be
taken into account during curriculum development to help medical students maintain their sense of calling
throughout their profession.
89. Modeling Demographic Transitions: The Role of Technology Gaps
Abigail Burns, UROP Summer Research Fellow, VCU Honors College, Depts. of Economics and International
Relations, with Dr. Carol Scotese, Dept. of Economics
Every region on earth, beginning in the nineteenth century with Europe and North America, has experienced
or is currently undergoing the fertility transition (Guinnane 2011; Bongaarts and Casterline 2012). The
mechanism driving this transition is the quantity/quality tradeoff, a utility maximization function in which
families seek to optimize not only their number of children but also the quality of those children (Becker
1981). Productivity increases due to technological growth, which increase the returns on child quality, have
been shown to be the primary cause behind these shifts in family fertility preferences and, thus, country and
region-wide fertility transitions (Becker 1981; Galor 2012). In light of this, analyzing the relationship between
countries’ changing productivity levels and their relative fertility transitions is vital to creating a cross-country
model of fertility choice. By exploring the relationship between countries’ distances to the world technology
frontier (DTF) and their fertility levels, the groundwork will be laid for developing a cross-country model of
fertility change that includes DTF data. This will allow for an understanding of how productivity affects
fertility transitions, why different regions transitioned at different rates, and how DTF and productivity growth
may affect countries and regions still in transition.
90. Metal Thin Films as High Efficiency Surface Enhance Raman Scattering Substrates for
Detection of Chronic Biomolecules
Vaghjiani, Nilan G.1, Nahar, Lamia2, and Arachchige, Indika U.3
1UROP
Summer Research Fellow, VCU Honors College Biomedical Engineering, Virginia Commonwealth
University
2Graduate
Student, Chemistry Department, Virginia Commonwealth University
3Assistant
Professor, Chemistry Department, Virginia Commonwealth University
Oxidative stress is defined as the imbalance between increased exposure to free radicals and
antioxidant defenses. Isoprostanes are a specific class of lipids that mediates oxidative stress. These
molecules are prostaglandin-like substances that are primarily produced in vivo by free radial-induced
peroxidation of arachidonic acid. In humans the identification and quantification of isoprostanes have
important clinical applications. For instance, studies have shown that these biomolecules are related to a
variety of human diseases, including Down’s syndrome, Alzheimer’s, Huntington’s and Creutzfeld-Jacob’s
disease. In this work, we hypothesize that Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS) can be used for
rapid and real time detection of isoprostanes potentially down to single molecular level, which helps for early
diagnosis of chronic medical conditions. This study developed wet-chemical syntheses for production of Ag
and Au/Ag alloy nanoparticles and their self-supported nanostructures as high efficiency SERS substrates for
rapid detection of isprostane molecules. Ag and Au/Ag alloy nanoparticles were directly cross-linked to high
surface area, nanoporous aerogel materials, prior to SERS analysis. The effect of synthetic parameters on the
primary particle size, morphology, surface area and porosity of Ag and Au/Ag alloy aerogels will be discussed
in the light of application in SERS based chemical sensing.
91. Synthesis and Characterization of Superhydrophobic Fibrous Membranes
Arzan Dotivala, UROP Summer Research Fellow, Dept. of Chemical and Life Science Engineering, with Dr.
Christina Tang, Dept. of Chemical and Life Science Engineering
Superhydrophobic i.e. water repellent materials are important in a number of applications, such as selfcleaning paints, protective coatings, and textiles. Polymer-based materials such as polystyrene are of
particular interest because they are cost effective, durable, heat and chemical resistant. The purpose of this
project is to fabricate superhydrophobic polystyrene membranes with controlled microstructure and
determine how microstructure affects the hydrophobicity. Two methods have been explored to fabricate
fibrous membranes with tunable microstructure: electrospinning and force spinning. Using electrospinning,
collecting fibers on a rotating mandrel to control fiber deposition was used to achieve uniaxially aligned fibers.
Orthogonal fibers were achieved with a layer-by-layer deposition, rotating the substrate between deposition of
each layer. Quantifiably the electrospinning method produced membranes with fiber spacing ranging from
~10μm to ~35μm. These results demonstrate that the variability in fiber spacing was too large to determine
the effect of fiber spacing on hydrophobicity. To improve the uniformity of fiber spacing, we are currently
exploring a force spinning technique known as Spinneret Based Tunable Engineered Parameters (STEP). In
STEP, a viscous polymer solution is extruded through a needle and a rotating collector is brought in contact
with the liquid droplet; the shear forces overcomes surface tension and pulls the droplet into fibers (figure 1
below). STEP is a mechanical drawing method that avoids the whipping instability inherent to
electrospinning, thus a more consistent fiber spacing can be achieved. Using STEP, the nanofiber diameter is
comparable to electrospinning ~5 μm. The fiber spacing and angle between fibers are currently being
investigated. Preliminary findings show a fiber spacing ~ 70μm with improved fiber spacing variability
compared to electrospinning. To assess hydrophobicity, the apparent water contact angle will be measured.
92.
Developing an Efficient Method for Fluorescent Labelling of Cell-Penetrable Peptides
Danarubini Ramanan, UROP Summer Research Fellow, Stacie L. Richardson, Matthew C.T. Hartman, Dept. of
Chemistry, Massey Cancer Center
Peptides coupled to fluorescent compounds are frequently used in drug development assays as cell-penetrable
drug carriers. However, conventional coupling methods are not time efficient and do not produce high yields
of fluorescent peptides. The coupling method proposed in this project enables 100% yield of various cell
penetrable peptides to fluorescein, a fluorescent compound, within two hours. Peptides were synthesized on
rink amide resin using microwave assisted peptide synthesis, purified using RP-HPLC, and confirmed through
MALDI. Di-acetylated 5-carboxyfluorescein N-hydroxysuccinimide ester was synthesized according to
literature. The peptide coupling assay utilized peptide coupling reagents, NMP, DIEA, and HATU, to provide
efficient yields of fluorescent peptide. The fluorescent peptides were purified through RP-HPLC and identified
by MALDI. Percent yields were calculated through the intensity of the product peaks in the RP-HPLC spectra.
These findings indicate that this procedure may be used to produce greater yield of fluorescent peptides in a
shorter amount of time for medicinal chemistry studies.
93. Impacting knowledge, attitudes and behaviors for the prevention and control of
hypertension and diabetes among rural, medically underserved Jamaican women of
childbearing age
Elyse Duani, UROP Summer Research Fellow, Depts. of Sociology and Health, Physical Education & Exercise
Science, with Dr. Joann Richardson, Dept. of Kinesiology and Health Sciences
Background: Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are a global burden and at the forefront of the public
health challenges the world is facing in the 21st century according to the World Health Organization (WHO,
2014). In Jamaica, over the past 30 years, “NCDs have emerged as the leading cause of morbidity and
mortality” (Ministry of Health--Jamaica, 2013; p 5). Among Jamaican women, the prevalence of hypertension
and diabetes is higher than in men (Bourne, 2009). The priority population was rural, medically underserved
Jamaican women of childbearing age, 15-44 years old (Sumar et al., 2011), who are at high risk for
hypertension and diabetes. Uncontrolled disease contributes to the subsequent development of cardiovascular
and cerebrovascular disease as well as increased mortality. In addition, these two diseases pose an additional
risk for the development of gestational hypertension, the leading direct cause of maternal mortality (United
Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund [UNICEF], 2016), as well as gestational diabetes which is
ranked in the top five indirect causes of maternal death in Jamaica (McCaw-Binns et al., 2007). The
proposed project also intends to decrease their likelihood of pregnancy and/or birthing complications
resulting from hypertension and/or diabetes in the event they become pregnant in the future.
Methods: This research design was an exploratory, community-engaged research study to address the
research question. The study utilized primary data collection methods, i.e., a semi-structured survey, face-toface focus groups, and baseline physiological variable measurements (i.e., blood pressure and glucose levels
and Body Mass Index [BMI]). The survey instrument addressed: demographic information; self-reported
perceptions of health status; their knowledge of healthy diets and recommended levels of physical activity;
facts about hypertension and diabetes and the associated risks; their attitudes regarding the seriousness of
the diseases, their susceptibility and the influence of poor dietary habits and physical inactivity; family
history of hypertension and diabetes; and, their practice of healthy behaviors. The focus groups sought more
in-depth information linked to the questions in the survey. During the intervention, participants gathered in
an easily accessible location within the community (e.g., faith-based organization) where the surveys (pre- and
post-test), focus groups, measurements of baseline physiological variables and the educational intervention
were conducted. Prior to any data collection, participants were consented using a Virginia Commonwealth
University (VCU) Institutional Review Board (IRB) approved consent form.
The participants engaged in two sessions, one per week during Time 1, June 19 to July 1, 2016. During
session 1 (week 1), the pre-test survey was administered followed by a focus group that gathered open-ended
responses that elaborate on their survey responses. Then, the baseline physiological measures (i.e., blood
pressure, blood glucose and BMI) were completed followed by the educational intervention. The session 1
educational module addressed the importance of disease prevention and control in maintaining health, basic
facts about hypertension and diabetes pathology, their susceptibility to the diseases, the seriousness of the
diseases, and the role of physical activity, proper diet and weight control in the prevention and control of
diabetes and hypertension. Researchers adapted educational materials for the cultural context and presented
the information in a culturally competent manner. During session 2 (week 2), the educational module
addressed self-efficacy to empower them to modify unhealthy behaviors, strategies for improving dietary
habits and nutritional intake and for increasing physical activity. The post-test survey was administered
followed by a focus group to gather open-ended responses that elaborated on their survey responses. The
physiological measures (i.e., blood pressure, blood glucose and BMI) were completed post-intervention at the
end of session 2.
Time 2 post-intervention data (i.e., 3 month follow-up) was collected from participants after October 1,
2016 using the post-test survey instrument to determine if improvements in knowledge and attitudes had
continued and whether behavior changes had been made. The instrument was administered by the
community leader/gatekeeper.
Time 3 post-intervention data (8 month follow-up) was collected by March 15, 2017. The mentor, Dr.
Joann T. Richardson, conducted an Alternative Spring Break Study Abroad to Jamaica during spring break
2017 (March 4-11, 2017). During that time, the post-test survey instrument was used to determine if
improvements in knowledge and attitudes had been sustained over time and whether behavior changes had
been made and/or sustained. In addition, a focus group was conducted to gather open-ended responses that
elaborate on their Time 3 survey responses. The physiological measures (i.e., blood pressure, blood glucose
and BMI) were also completed post-intervention at Time 3.
94. Does Aquatic Insect Emergence Correlate with the Timing of Breeding and Nestling
Condition in the Prothonotary Warbler (Protonataria citrea)?
Huy Phan, UROP Summer Research Fellow, Dept. of Environmental Studies, with Dr. Lesley Bulluck and Dr.
Andrew Garey, Dept. of Biology
Emerging aquatic insects (EAI) from rivers and streams provide an important food source for riparian
consumers. One such consumer is the Prothonotary Warbler (Protonotaria Citrea), an insectivorous songbird
that breeds in bottomland forests of the southeastern United States. It is well understood that birds
synchronize their breeding times to capitalize on peaks in prey availability to feed their nestlings; however,
few studies have quantified the overlap between the timing of EAI and the breeding of birds or the fitness
benefits associated with such overlap. To address this knowledge gap, we studied emerging aquatic insects
and Prothonotary Warbler nesting during the 2016 breeding season at Deep Bottom Park, Henrico County,
Virginia. The objectives of this study were (1) to assess prey availability during periods of high demand by
looking for the degree of overlap in the timing of EAI and the timing of warbler nestling feeding and (2) to
determine if mean nestling condition was greater in weeks with more EAI. There were two peaks in nestling
feeding and only the second one (aka the second clutch) overlapped with peak EAI availability. This differs
from 2014 when the first clutch overlapped with aquatic insect availability – the spring weather in 2016 was
colder and wetter than average and likely the cause of the annual difference. Nestling condition is a measure
of the bird’s mass in relation to body size and was calculated as the residual from a regression of mass and
nestling age in days. Mean nestling condition decreased with increasing EAI biomass (P < 0.01) as well as
specific taxa of EAI including Ephemeroptera (P = 0.02), Diptera (P = 0.01), and Trichoptera (P < 0.01). These
results suggest that nestling body condition deteriorated as total emergence increased over the study period,
regardless of which taxa was most abundant. This surprising result is also likely due to this year’s anomalous
weather. Nestling body condition is typically lower later in the season and it was hypothesized that this was
due to declining prey availability but our findings suggest there may be another factor at play. Even when
prey availability is high, parents may feed nestlings less as they need to allocate energy to molt in preparation
for fall migration. More study is needed to understand the relationship between EAI prey availability and
nestling condition in this species.
95. Biocatalytic potential of deoxyribose-5-phosphate aldolase variants in the synthesis of
stain side-chains
Linda Foreman, Dept. of Chemistry, with Dr. Katherine Belecki, Dept. of Chemistry
Deoxyribose-5-phosphate aldolase (DERA) is an enzyme found in all bacteria. The catalytic properties of
DERA can be harnessed to perform carbon-carbon bond forming reactions that are relevant to the production
of fine chemicals, including some pharmaceuticals. Rosuvastatin, the active ingredient in Crestor®, has
historically been synthesized via a lengthy and inefficient process which employs traditional organic chemistry
methods. A biocatalytic approach to the chiral side chain of rosuvastatin and other statin drugs would
improve the overall process, making it more efficient and more environmentally friendly. My project consists of
using site-directed mutagenesis to create DERA variants that can then be evaluated as to their effectiveness
as biocatalysts in the synthesis of the chiral side chain of rosuvastatin.
My project continues from earlier work where the deoC gene, which codes for the DERA protein, was inserted
into a commercially available plasmid in such a way that the DERA product has a hexahistidine tag. The
altered plasmid was then introduced into Escherichia coli (E. coli) so that the DERA protein could be overexpressed and collected. Site-directed mutagenesis was then employed to make rationally designed changes
in the DERA protein DNA. The biocatalytical activity of the resulting variants were then experimentally
evaluated for their ability to incorporate novel substrates into a precursor that can be used in an efficient
synthesis of rosuvastatin and other statin drugs.
96. Social Isolation and Acculturation Needs Assessment of Bhutanese Older Adult Refugees
in Richmond
Caitlin Lange, UROP Summer Research Fellow, Dept. of Social Work, with Dr. Hyojin Im Dept. of Social work
Each year tens of thousands of refugees arrive in the United States and amongst the variety of needs that
need to be addressed and mental health care can be cast aside in favor of basic survival requirements. As a
result of mental health not being viewed as a necessity; severe issues can be developed later on in life. During
the acculturation process refugees are particularly at risk for poor mental health outcomes due to the
stressors associated with trauma leading to the relocation and cultural loss, adjusting to the new norms and
skill sets needed in the host community and acquiring resources for oneself and their family. The present
study is focused on assessing the specific needs of Bhutanese older adults during acculturation in the
Greater Richmond Area as this group has one of the highest suicide rates of any population. Older adults are
at a higher risk than other age populations due to a more likely chance for social isolation and number of
adverse traumatic experiences. Specifically older adults from Bhutan reflect such concerns in their refugee
communities, highlighting cultural trauma and bereavement, compounded by lack of appropriate services or
interventions. Using in-depth interview methods, this study explores why such mental health challenges have
occurred to the Bhutanese refugee community and assess resources and support, both formal and informal,
to address such gaps and burdens. The findings from thematic analysis will discuss implications and
limitations of the study.
Key words: Older Adults, Refugees, Acculturation, Needs Assessment
97. Sensory Sensitivity in Typically-Developing Children and its Association with Cognitive
Adaptation
Nicholas Donnelly, Dept. of Psychology, with Dr. Marcia Winter, Dept. of Psychology
Sensory sensitivity relates to one’s ability to process sensory information from everyday stimuli. People with a
low sensory threshold may detect more input, generally feeling more distracted and overwhelmed than others,
leaving them with fewer resources to devote to reacting and coping with the changing demands of their
environments. Typically, previous research has focused on the impact of profound sensory sensitivity in
children with disabilities; however, its effects within the normative-developmental spectrum are less explicit.
Given that executive functions controlling attention, cognitive flexibility, and regulation are all developing in
young children, and could be impacted greatly by the relative sensitivity threshold one has, this study
examines the potential link between sensory sensitivity and child cognitive adaptation in a sample of young,
typically-developing children. Children ages 3-8 are recruited in the Children’s Museum of Richmond. After
consent and assent, parents report family demographics and children’s sensory sensitivity (Sensory Profile-2);
children complete the Dimensional Change Card Sort (DCCS; NIH toolkit) task via iPad in two trials: under
normal museum conditions of high sensory stimulation and under limited sensory conditions (visual barrier
and noise-cancelling headphones). Hierarchical regression analysis will be used to test associations between
levels of child sensory sensitivity and child cognitive adaptation/shifting scores from the DCCS (calculated via
norms for child age and gender). It is hypothesized children who are higher in sensory sensitivity will score
lower on the DCCS (have a harder time shifting cognitively) than children less sensitive to sensory input,
especially under normal, high sensory input museum conditions. Results will be discussed as they pertain to
how children successfully adapt to the changing demands of day-to-day life and how this ability could
promote resilient outcomes in the face of life’s challenges.
98. Experimental Design for the Online Introductory IT Class Emphasizing Student-toStudent Interaction
Aktarul Alam and Louis Dajeu, Dept. of Information Systems, with Dr. Elena Olson, Dept. of Information Systems
Online classes have always been a practical option for many working students as well as general full time IS
students. This project is a continuation of our conducted study from 2015. The purpose of this year’s
research is to build a model for an investigation of the effect of Student-to-Student online interaction in online
introductory Information Technology courses on student learning outcomes. The research model consists
Students in the online introduction to e-Business Technologies course are exposed to different types of
Student-to-Student interactions while working on the semester long IT project. One section is designed to
emphasize on teamwork through introducing the group projects and group discussions, while the other
section is designed to emphasize on teamwork through introducing group projects and group discussions.
With the data gathered, we hope to restructure the introductory online courses in Information Systems to
allow students to build a stronger foundation that will facilitate their progression into the higher-level
courses.
99. Sensitizing cancer cells through protein interactions
Kaylee Newcomb, UROP Summer Research Fellow, VCU Honors College, Dept. of Chemistry, with Dr. Matthew
C.T. Hartman, Dept. of Chemistry
Cancer chemotherapy results in systematic damage as the drugs used are also toxic to benign tissue.
Sensitizing a cancer cell to therapy by interfering with the DNA repair mechanisms would decrease overall
toxicity, as the necessary dosage of chemotherapy drugs would be lowered. The Hartman lab developed a
peptide (8.6) that binds with a KD of 1 μM to the C-terminal domain of breast cancer associated protein
(BRCA1), blocking homologous recombination. The crystal structure of the peptide shows the tyrosine and
threonine residues are close together, suggesting that by cyclizing these positions, the peptide may already be
constrained into its bound conformation. A series of dibromomethylnaphthalene linkers of various length
were synthesized and cyclized through alkylation of the cysteine residues on peptide 8.6. The binding of the
cyclic peptides with the BRCA1 (BRCT)2 domain will be compared to peptide 8.6 through the use of
fluorescence polarization.
100. Assistive Technologies for Continuing Medical Education in Nepal
Ruxandra Zait, UROP Summer Research Fellow, with Dr. Manoj A. Thomas, Dept. of Information Systems
Continuing Medical Education (CME) is the process of lifelong learning, by which diverse constituencies of
health professionals continually acquire new knowledge and skills to stay up to date with the latest drugs,
equipment, and medical procedures. The educational and workplace learning redesign process begins with the
understanding that the status quo attitude will not be effective in this era of numerous complex diseases. Both
the spread of diseases and the technological advancements are proceeding rapidly and it is extremely important
for the latter to outpace the former. Internationally, the provision of health care is questionable in underserved
communities, such as the ones in Nepal, where legislation to make CME a requirement, made little progress
over the years. All the medical personnel, from doctors to community health volunteers, signal the lack of wellstructured and easy accessible CME, as well as the lack of motivators for completing these programmes.
According to local experts, over 60% of rural doctors had access to a computer, but not Internet. To address
this challenge our team designed the CME on a Stick (CMES) solution, which essentially is an auto-running
USB drive with CME content and some OS-like functionalities. The CMES solution provides CME content
bundled by different topics areas within emergency medicine. The software allows practitioners to synchronize
and update new content when used on a computer with Internet access. Audio and textual CME content is
provided by emrap.org, and the updated content is available for synchronization on a monthly basis. Further,
the initiative of providing distance-learning CME to doctors working even in the most remote locations in Nepal
faces not only the challenge of poor communication infrastructure, but also the challenge of low retention rates
and reduced involvement. Therefore, the CME content is managed based on the user requests and interests.
Also, to ensure efficient and effective learning, our team will continue to provide different types of content (text,
audio, video), so we can reach a larger group of individuals who might simply have different learning styles.
Finally, in realizing the promise of high-quality health care, several physicians in Kathmandu accepted to serve
as role models. Our team hopes that their motivation to fulfill their “initial promise to society” in reducing the
burden of suffering and disease in their communities, will serve as an intrinsic incentive for the remaining
physicians. In conclusion, a series of both intrinsic and extrinsic incentives, along with the use of simpler but
innovative technologies, promise to result in better physician involvement and increased CME completion rates.
This is a program with strong international emphasis, so we are trying to increase the participants’ self-esteem,
but also their desire to align to international standards.
101. Philadelphia Freedom
Michelle Thomas, Dept. of Anthropology, with Dr. Bernard Means, Dept. of Anthropology
Many do not realize the presence of free African Americans in Philadelphia during the 18th century. Free
African Americans and enslaved peoples began migrating to Philadelphia around the 17th century, starting
communities throughout the city. Excavation done before the building of the National Constitution Center has
uncovered artifacts with free African American context. This project focuses on objects found believed to have
belonged to James Dexter, a free African American who was prominent in the Philadelphia community, and
other artifacts with free African American context around the 18th century. This project emphasizes the
presence of free African Americans during this time through study of the material remains.
102. The Body and Art: Importance of the Head Across Culture
Alexander Wilson, Dept. of Anthropology, with Dr. Bernard Means, Dept. of Anthropology
The head, seen by cultures as the seat of the soul and individuality, is represented in many ways. The Celtic
people and Yoruba people both portray the head in art by over exaggerating the size and detail in comparison
to the body. The Ancient Egyptians are speculated to have participated in skull elongation, and by comparing
these different depictions of the head; we can gain insight into the world of these ancient cultures. By using
the known application and implications of the head in Yoruba culture, and art we can try to draw some
similarities between the three in regards to the imagery of the head in sculpture. By comparing these cultures
we can see the importance they held to certain aspects of the human body, and how the art reflected these
beliefs.
103. Predators of the Pleistocene and their Role in Megafaunal Extinction
Nicholas Girard, Dept. of Anthropology, with Dr. Bernard Means, Dept. of Anthropology
Predators are one possible cause of the megafaunal extinction event than is normally considered, of
which this research design will be exploring and discussing. Too many predators contributed to an
imbalanced ecosystem, which is shown through evidence of a mastodon bone with short faced-bear, as well as
dire wolf markings found on it. This research design discusses how the predation is a possible cause of the
North American megafaunal extinction that took place roughly ten thousand years ago. The two different
prehistoric animal markings will provide knowledge on how to tell apart the dire wolf markings from the
short-faced bear. Determinates of which markings belong to each animal will be explored through the
pressure used on the bone to create the marks, the estimated age of the mastodon attacked, and similar
findings of these marks by other archaeologists’ research.
104. PATTERNS OF ENSLAVEMENT AND ECONOMIC OPPRESSION OF CENTRAL VIRGINIA
Hannah Bedwell, Dept. of Anthropology, with Dr. Bernard Means, Dept. of Anthropology
I address how anthropologists can identify the patterns and development of slavery and economic oppression
through archaeology and the visualization of Virginia enslavement. My focus is on the enslaved people of
James Madison's, Montpelier and I will use 3D modeling as a foundation for integrating enhanced visuals. My
goal is to present a tangible understanding of the enslaved individuals in relation to the artifacts and history
of the archaeological sites. I intend to show a common theme in economic oppression by comparing modern
themes in slavery and examining Fraser D. Neiman's synthesis of the evolutionary perspective of slavery, and
how little has changed in economic practices.
105. Determining the Structure of Mammalian ORMDL
John Vio E. Suemitsu, VCU Honors College, Dept. of Chemistry with a Concentration in Biochemistry, with Dr.
Binks Wattenberg, VCU School of Medicine’s Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Sphingolipids are a class of lipids built on sphingosine, an eighteen carbon amino-alcohol backbone. This
family comprises a diverse group each of which have important functions in cell signaling and membrane
structure. Sphingolipids are modified in a variety of ways resulting to numerous types of sphingolipids but
despite the diversity of sphingolipids, there is only one anabolic and catabolic pathway that create and
degrade sphingosines, respectively. Serine palmitoyl transferase (SPT) serves as the initiating enzyme and its
activity is presumed to be the rate-limiting step of the sphingolipid synthesis. SPT is homeostatically
regulated such that elevation of cellular sphingolipid results in reduced SPT activity. The ORMDLs, membrane
proteins of the endoplasmic reticulum, are critical components in SPT’s regulation. ORMDLs, which are the
homologs of ORMs found in yeast, detect the levels of sphingolipids but not much is known about its
regulatory mechanism. The major questions that Dr. Wattenberg’s lab tries to answer are how ORMDLs sense
sphingolipids and how ORMDLs affect SPT activity. One critical step in understanding ORMDL mechanism is
determining the structure of ORMDLs, which is the primary focus of my research. The research aims to
specifically identify the region of ORMDLs that sense sphingolipids and possibly another ORMDL site that
interacts with SPT. To find the location of ORMDL binding sites, suspected important segments of the ORMDL
(the N and C termini, transmembrane regions, and loops) have been replaced by segments of the ORMs
resulting to a “protein chimera”. Although both proteins are homologues, ORMs are indirectly regulated by
ceramides through kinases which means that they are missing segments that make it possible for ORMDL to
directly respond to sphingolipids. We believe that by replacing an important region of the ORMDL with an
ORM segment, the ORMDL will no longer be responsive to ceramide levels, this region would then be a
candidate for the binding site in ORMDL of sphingolipid. Constructs have been made through gene blocks,
site-directed mutagenesis, and cloning. The resulting sequences were analyzed to be valid and we are in the
process of testing the constructs.
106. "Soul Food, Mmm!" Do Food Preferences Impact People's Perceptions of Black
Americans?
Danyel Smith, Dept. of Psychology, with Dr. Nao Hagiwara, Dept. of Psychology
Although health promotion behaviors, such as healthy eating, are influenced by a number of factors (e.g.,
health knowledge, accessibility, socioeconomic status), previous research has found that racial identity is one
important factor contributing to health promotion/risk behaviors. Specifically, it has been shown that African
Americans (AA) with stronger, as opposed to weaker, racial identity are less likely to engage in healthy eating
because healthy eating is viewed as incongruent with the AA identity (Oyserman, Fryberg, and Yoder, 2007).
The current study extends the previous research by examining inter-personal perceptions of food preferences
in 291 AA and White college students. In the present experimental study, participants were randomly
assigned to view one of four profiles ostensibly completed by another VCU student. The student profiles were
manipulated to vary on gender (i.e., DeShawn vs. LaKeisha) and food preference (i.e., Salad vs. Soul food).
Race/ethnicity were reported in the profiles as African American. Both AA and White participants perceived
DeShawn and LaKeisha as having weaker racial identity when their favorite food was indicated as salad as
opposed to Soul food. However, AA participants reacted more negatively to LaKeisha when her favorite food
was indicated as Soul food as opposed to salad. There was no difference in participants’ affective reactions to
DeShawn as a function of his favorite food, suggesting that effects of food preference on inter-personal
perceptions have to be understood in a context of intersectionality between race and gender. This study has
implications in a variety of health fields including health psychology, public health, and health advertisement.
Specifically, this research may inform culturally sensitive nutrition interventions that target AA youth and
young adults by focusing on the association between AA identity and culturally-rooted foods.
107. Longitudinal Analysis of Adolescent PTSD: Implications of Genetic Variants and
Environmental Variables
Laurel Kovalchick, VCU Honors College, Christina M. Sheerin, Cassie Overstreet, Lance M. Rappaport, Vernell
Williamson, Vladimir Vladimirov, Ken Ruggiero, Ananda Amstadter, Dept. of Psychiatry
Objective/Aims: Children and adolescents affected by natural disasters are at an increased risk for negative
post-disaster outcomes, particularly post-traumatic stress symptoms and diagnosed posttraumatic stress
disorder (PTSD). Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) and candidate gene studies have supported the
role of genetic variation in the etiology and severity of PTSD, but few studies have focused on understanding
the role of genetic influence on longer-term symptom presentation and recovery following trauma. Most of
these investigations focus on common genetic variation, with much less work to date examining rare and less
common variation. Moreover, even fewer studies have focused on genetic risk on outcomes post-disaster in
adolescents.
The current study aimed to 1) characterize PTSD symptoms and its trajectory over time following a natural
disaster and 2) identify rare and common genetic variation associated with PTSD symptom presentation over
time in an adolescent population.
Method: The genetic data were obtained from a subset of subjects (N = 707; Mage = 14.53, SD = 1.73; 51.9%
female) who participated in a larger population-based randomized controlled trial of a web-based intervention
administered following tornado exposure. The National Survey of Adolescents PTSD module was used to
assess PTSD symptoms at baseline, 4 months, and 12 months. Additional measures included adolescent selfreport at the baseline assessment on environmental variables: trauma history, tornado severity, social
support and family conflict.
Saliva samples were provided and processed on an exome array, which queries 247,870 variable exonic sites
including rare variants. Following quality control procedure, gene-based sum scores were created based on
genes identified to be associated with lifetime PTSD in a previous study.
Analytic plan: Multilevel modeling was conducted to examine change in PTSD symptoms over the three time
points (baseline, 4 months, 12 months) and to determine the influence of aggregate genetic risk, controlling
for web-based intervention group. Using the top 13 genes identified as associated with PTSD status at
baseline, gene-based risk scores were created by summing the risk alleles for variants in each gene (M = 19.2
variants included per gene, range = 5-50). Additional analyses will examine the association of gene-based risk
sum scores and environmental variables on trajectories describing change in symptoms over time.
Results: PTSD diagnostic status and average symptom count (out of 17) are as follows: baseline, 7.3% M =
3.37; 4 month, 5.7% M = 2.79; 12 month, 4.0% M = 2.73. Multilevel models revealed significant curvilinear
reduction in PTSD symptoms over the three time points (b = .81, SE = .16, p < .001) whereby the greatest
decrease in symptoms was present from baseline to 4 months’ post-baseline assessment. The poster will
further present on the association of genetic risk sum scores and environmental variables with symptom
trajectories.
Conclusion: PTSD symptoms demonstrated an expected natural recovery in the population following tornado
exposure. Given the present results suggesting that the average symptom counts are highest at baseline,
interventions administered within the first few months following natural disaster exposure would be most
beneficial to the general population and may further increase the natural rate of recovery suggested in the
present findings. Individuals with genetic variation, including rare variation, and environmental conditions
that are associated with poor recovery following trauma represent a population that would most benefit from
targeted prevention and intervention. Limitations to the study include attrition across time points resulting in
a smaller sample size that may be underpowered to identify genetic effects.
108. Ethnobotany of Medicine Across the Globe
Cassandra Lubowsky, Department of Anthropology with Dr. Bernard Means, Dept. of Anthropology
The relationship between humans and plants is older than the concept of ethnobotany itself. When one begins to
look into the variety of ways that different cultures use plants for similar medicinal healing, then the
relationship of man to plant grows exponentially. The goal of this research is to see how different cultures
approach similar health problems with what is common to the area in which they inhabit.
109. Richmond's East End Cemetery and Racial Disparities in Health in the 1950s
Emily Michaelis, Chloe Tibert, with Dr. Susan Bodnar-Deren, Dept. of Sociology
In a service learning project with East End Cemetery located in East End Richmond, Virginia, students in
medical sociology at VCU collected data from headstones and attempted to answer a question about life for
African Americans in this area of Richmond. After noticing an unusually high mortality rate reported for the
1950’s, we chose to ask questions about the year 1950 and the decade that followed. We also noticed several
instances of low life expectancy, and questioned the causes of death for both of these variables. We found
several publications on the racial climate in Richmond during this time and existing studies on the effect of
racial discrimination and racial injustices on health. Our study seeks to look at a unique population: 78 African
Americans who died in 1950-1959 from East End Richmond and its neighboring communities. Our goal was to
evaluate specific factors that could explain a spike in mortality in the 1950’s. We also sought to compare social
demographics with both acute and chronic illness in relation to cases of low life expectancy for this population.
We concluded that while several possible explanations for excess mortality and low life expectancy in the 1950s
remain, a combination of the dismantling of black communities and the physiological stress of perceived
discrimination had the most significant effect on the two variables in question.
Keywords: socioeconomic status (SES)
110. Release Kinetics of Nanoparticles from Electrospun Fibers
Rebecca Walker, with Dr. Christina Tang, School of Engineering, Department of Chemical & Life Science
Engineering
Polymer drug delivery systems that enable tunable release profiles can improve therapeutic effect, reduce
toxicity and improve patient compliance when compared to conventional dosage forms. Nanofiber based
systems are especially promising for transdermal, implantable, and oral drug delivery due to their high
specific surface area and high porosity. We aim to achieve erosion-controlled release of drug-loaded
nanoparticles from electrospun polymer nanofibers. Nanoparticles loaded with perylene, a hydrophobic
fluorescent dye, and stabilized with polyethylene glycol were prepared by Flash NanoPrecipitation as a model
system for studying release rates. The nanoparticles were blended with a fiber forming polymer and
electrospun into nanofibers. The nanoparticle loading achieved was 0.9 (wt/wt)%, mass of
nanoparticles/mass of polymer fiber. These results indicate that nanoparticles loaded with hydrophobic drugs
can be successfully incorporated into nanofibers. We are currently investigating the release rate of
nanoparticles as the polymer fibers erode using fluorescence measurements (excitation at 415 nm and
emission at 475 nm). Nanoparticle fluorescence has been detected at a fiber concentration of 0.17 mg/mL (mg
of fibers/mL of water). Since the nanofibers appear to dissolve within 5 minutes, the systems studied may be
used as fast dissolving membranes for sublingual drug delivery.
111. Identification of "Kratom" (Mitragyna speciosa) Alkaloids in Commercially Available
Products
Julia Grzymkowski1, Justin L. Poklis2 and Michelle R. Peace1
Departments of 1Forensic Science and 2Pharmacology & Toxicology, Virginia Commonwealth University
“Kratom” is the common name for the botanical mitragyna speciosa. It is a tree native to Southeast Asia in
which leaves contain the psychoactive alkaloids mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine. Kratom is often
ingested as teas, chewed, or smoked. It acts as a stimulant in small doses and as an opioid in large doses.
Overdoses can result in vomiting, seizures, and death. Recently the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) placed
Kratom on Schedule 1, but, due to public outcry, it was almost immediately removed.
Eleven kratom based products were obtained from various tobacco shops, “headshops” and via the
internet including: Choice brand capsule and powder, Krave brand capsule, Lucky brand powder, King
Kratom and Purple Haze e-liquids with 0 mg nicotine and 12 mg nicotine, Mojo brand capsule, O.P.M.S Liquid
Kratom concentrate, and a K. Kratom chocolate bar. These products and methanol extracted samples were
analyzed for psychoactive alkaloids and other components using an AccuTOF Direct Analysis in Real Time
Mass Spectrometry (DART-MS) and Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS).
The psychoactive alkaloids mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine along with four other alkaloids,
corynantheidine, corynoxine, paynantheine, and speciofoline, were identified in all 11 products.
Unregulated commercial products made from kratom contain psychoactive alkaloids such as mitragynine and
7-hydroxymitragynine. They are readily available in a variety of forms and may be prone to abuse.
112. Development of Electronic Cigarette Liquid Extraction Techniques and
Comparison of Advertised and Actual Liquid Nicotine Concentration
Joseph Hunt, Biology Major Jacob Graham, BS, Biology Caroline O. Cobb, PhD, Psychology, Faculty Mentor
Electronic cigarettes, or e-cigarettes, represent a relatively recent and increasingly popular form of tobacco
use that involves use of a battery powered device that heats liquid (typically nicotine-containing) into an
aerosol to be inhaled by the user. Interestingly, this increase in use has occurred in concert with a lack of
federal regulation of product standards and quality control despite several analytical studies noting that
nicotine concentration in e-cigarette liquid deviates substantially from the labeled amount. These
discrepancies reinforce the need for more regulation and quality control testing, but few studies have
examined the concordance in nicotine concentration advertised and actual amount in widely marketed
disposable e-cigarette products. This absence of data is likely due to difficulties in extracting liquid for
analysis. The current study aims to develop methods to extract liquid from one e-cigarette brand (blu;
Imperial Tobacco Group) with disposable varieties and compare the advertised versus actual nicotine content
of several marketed products. First, blu disposable e-cigarettes, disposable “tanks”, and refillable liquid
bottles were purchased at the same nicotine concentrations (1.2% and 2.4% of nicotine of total weight).
Piloting of sample preparation/extraction techniques resulted in a multi-step process that differed for
disposable e-cigarettes and “tanks”. For the final procedure, disposable e-cigarettes had their blue LED light
removed via small pliers; then the battery and circuit board were mechanically isolated from the rest of the
disposable e-cigarette. The remaining part of the disposable e-cigarette was placed mouth end down into a 10
mL conical tube. Disposable “tanks” were removed from blister packaging and placed mouth end down into a
10 mL conical tube. Tubes were spun at 1200 rcf for 10 minutes. The liquid collected was removed via pipette
and the process was repeated until all liquid or at least 1 mL had been transferred from the conical tube into
a 2.5 mL sample tube. Following this procedure, approximately X mL of liquid was extracted for each
disposable e-cigarette and X mL of liquid for each disposable “tank”. Nicotine concentration analyses for all
samples are forthcoming. Identifying a procedural process to effectively extract liquid from disposable ecigarette products is important for informing quality control processes as well as future research efforts that
may depend on independent testing of e-cigarette nicotine concentration.
113. Alexithymia Moderates the Association Between Maternal Depressive Symptoms
and Perceived Adolescent Adjustment
Hayne Noh, VCU Honors College, Depts. of Biology and Psychology, with Dr. Wendy Kliewer, Dept. of
Psychology
Rates of suicide among African American youth are increasing faster than any other ethnic group (Bridge et
al., 2015). With mental illness associated with suicide rates, it is essential to understand how symptoms
manifest during adolescence. Although the association between maternal depression and poor adolescent
adjustment is well established, there is a dearth of evidence examining the impact of maternal alexithymia on
adolescent adjustment, particularly among low-income youth. The goal of the study was to elucidate the role
of maternal alexithymia (difficulty understanding and expressing emotion) in the association between
maternal depressive symptoms and adolescent adjustment within a sample of low-income urban youth.
Data from the current sample were drawn from Project COPE, a 4-year longitudinal study of low-income
urban youth from the eastern United States. The analytic sample consisted of youth (N = 351, Mage=12.20
years, SD=0.68 years at baseline) and their maternal caregivers from Time 1 of the study. The youth identified
as 91% African American and 53% male. Maternal depression and Alexithymia was assessed using selfreports from the Brief Symptoms Inventory and the Toronto-Alexithymia scale respectively. Adolescent
adjustment (anxiety and depressive symptoms) was assessed via caregiver reports from the Child Behavior
Checklist. Results from moderation analyses revealed that maternal alexithymia moderated the association
between maternal depression and perceived adolescent adjustment. Specifically, the association between
maternal depressive symptoms and decreased perception of youth’s adjustment was stronger in mothers with
high alexithymia. These findings illustrate the negative impact of maternal alexithymia on youth adjustment
and subsequent poor outcomes.
114. Deconstructing Division: Mindfulness Meditation Training Promotes in-vivo
Interracial Helping Behavior
Stuart Lytle, Anmanat Boparai, Justin D. Tubbs, Kirk Warren Brown, Daniel R. Berry, Dept. of Psychology
Empathy promotes compassion and prosocial behavior, but often struggles to unite people across
common societal divisions, such as race (Cikara & Zaki, 2016). This disconnect is due to an increased
perceived psychological distance between oneself and out-group members (Batson & Ahmad, 2009). Recent
research has identified mindfulness meditation, a practice of focusing one’s attention on the present moment,
as capable of increasing prosocial helping behavior (Condon et al., 2013) and as a potential means for
reducing perceived psychological distance between the self and others (Berry & Brown, 2017). This
experiment examined the impact of mindfulness training on helping behavior toward out-group members.
Self-identifying white female participants (N=79) were presented an acted scenario involving a self-identifying
black female confederate needing assistance, and in-vivo helping behavior was recorded. At the end of this
session participants were randomized to either a sham or mindfulness meditation training condition. After
training, participants were presented with a new helping scenario and in-vivo helping behavior was recorded.
Three-block sequential logistic regression models revealed that prior to training, trait mindfulness predicted
more frequent helping behavior (p < .01). Additionally, a multilevel logistic regression models showed
mindfulness training significantly increased the frequency of helping behavior from pre-test to post-test
compared to the sham training (p = .05). These findings indicate mindfulness leads to increased interracial
helping behavior, possibly by overriding perceived psychological distance between oneself and out-group
members. Therefore, mindfulness meditation training could be an effective practice for deconstructing social
and psychological barriers that limit intergroup kindness.
115. The Influence of Socioeconomic Status and Marital Status on Breastfeeding in
Black Women
Jaida Howell, Depts. of Liberal Studies for Early & Elementary Education and African American Studies, with Dr.
Vivian Dzokoto, Dept. of African American Studies
Breastfeeding is the most natural form of nutrition for a baby. With the rising acceptance of not only
breastfeeding in general, but public breastfeeding in America, this topic still seems oddly controversial in the
Black community. This study sought to better understand the acceptance of breastfeeding in the Black
community and the likelihood of a Black mother breastfeeding her child. My study focused on how
socioeconomic status and marital status influence this likelihood. A survey was administered to 25 Black
women, and I interviewed 15 of them. The survey asked questions about socioeconomic status and marital
status at the time of the birth of the women’s youngest child. It also included a question regarding whether or
not the women breastfed that child. In the interview, women who had completed the survey were asked why
they did or did not breastfeed their youngest child. In the results, 17 of the 25 women breastfed their
youngest child. A scale was used to determine the socioeconomic statuses of the women based off of the
survey questions. This scale measured occupation, income level and level of education. Within the women
that breastfed their children, 7 of them were from the lower/upper lower socioeconomic class, 10 women were
from the lower middle/upper middle socioeconomic class, and none were from the upper socioeconomic class.
Of the women that breastfed, 12 women were married and 5 women were single at the birth of their youngest
child. Based on my results, I conclude that middle class, married women are most likely to breastfeed in the
Black Community, while lower class, single women are least likely to breastfeed their children.
116.
THE NON-ANTICOAGULANT DERIVATIVE OF ENOXAPARIN, 2-O,3-O
DESULFATED ENOXAPARIN, IS A POTENT INHIBITOR OF HUMAN NEUTROPHIL
ELASTASE.
Megh Kumar1 , Daniel K. Afosah2, and Umesh R. Desai2
1Department
of Chemistry, VCU Honors College
Biology, Drug Discovery and Development
2Department
of Medicinal Chemistry and Institute for Structural
Human neutrophil elastase (NE) is a serine protease produced by neutrophils in response to infection and
inflammation. Its arginine-rich nature renders it highly electropositive, ensuring its interaction with negatively
charged species including glycosaminoglycans (GAGs). An upregulation in NE has been shown to exist in a
number of inflammatory conditions including cystic fibrosis and emphysema. In such cases NE inhibitors will
be very useful, however, there are none approved by the FDA as yet. Unfractionated heparin and enoxaparin
have been shown to inhibit NE but their anticoagulant properties limits their use in such conditions.
A heparin derivative, 2-O,3-O desulfated heparin (ODSH), which lacks anticoagulant properties has been
shown to be equipotent with heparin in inhibiting NE activity. This observation prompted us to investigate the
anti-NE activity of 2-O,3-O desulfated enoxaparin (ODSE), an under-sulfated derivative of enoxaparin. ODSE
was obtained by alkaline treatment of enoxaparin with sodium hydroxide. Following neutralization of the
alkali and lyophilization, the resulting species was desalted using size exclusion chromatography, to obtain
the desired product at about 40% yield. The ODSE so obtained, was characterized using NMR. The activated
partial thromboplastin time assay indicated that ODSE lacks the anticoagulant activity of enoxaparin. Our
work further demonstrated that ODSE is a potent inhibitor of NE, utilizing an allosteric inhibition
mechanism. In addition, we showed that ionic interactions are a key component of the NE-ODSE interaction,
as was observed with the parent molecule. This work advances low-molecular weight non-anticoagulant GAG
species as potent NE inhibitors. In addition, this work serves as the basis for the development of heparin
oligosaccharides with selectivity for NE inhibition.
117. Replicating Tissue Stiffness on Microfabricated Post Array Detectors
Ariana DeCastro, IMSD Research Scholar, Thomas Petet, and Christopher Lemmon , Department of Biomedical
Engineering
The extracellular matrix (ECM) is the framework surrounding the cell that is comprised of crucial proteins
and molecules. The ECM has a stiffness that varies with tissue type. For example, breast tissue is softer than
bone tissue. Fibronectin (FN) assembly is the primary step in remodeling the ECM, usually during wound
healing. FN is then replaced with tissue specific proteins throughout the remodeling process. An upregulation
of FN secretion is a marker of many disease states, such as fibrosis and cancer. This could lead to major
changes in ideal stiffness of a tissue which can in turn change cell activity. So, further studying the role of
varying stiffness in the ECM can help us understand cell activity. Microfabricated post-array detectors
(MPADs) are microscopic visco-elastic columns made of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) that can be manipulated
during fabrication process to mirror different stiffnesses found in the body. The purpose of this study is to
recreate a range of stiffnesses in the body by mixing ratios of two different blends of PDMS and adjusting the
height of MPADs. By doing so, the elastic moduli of the MPADs can be changed and can closely match the
values of tissues such as lung or breast. The drawback to this process is that by increasing the height and
decreasing the elastic moduli the MPADs become less stable which makes the fabrication process difficult.
Future studies would entail quantifying forces exerted by cells using the known mechanical properties of the
MPADs and exploring the role of other proteins, such as transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-β1), in FN
assembly. This work was supported by the IMSD Research Training Program.
118. The Founding Father Search for Mega-Fauna
Kristen Egan, Dept. of Anthropology, with Dr. Bernard Means, Dept. of Anthropology
During the 1700s there was great scientific controversy between French naturalist Georges-Louis Leclerc and
American founding father Thomas Jefferson regarding the flora and fauna found in America. Leclerc claimed
that the fauna specifically in the United States was inferior to that which was found in Europe. Determined to
prove that America was also home to similar fauna Thomas Jefferson decided to fund an expedition to find
these great beast of America, this trip was know as the Lewis and Clarke’s expedition. Although the sole
reason for the trip was not to find mega-fauna during the Lewis and Clarke expedition it was believed that the
animals still roamed in western American. It was hoped that Lewis and Clarke would find live specimen.
Thomas Jefferson was not the only founding father that was fascinated by the idea of great American beast
roaming their country. Benjamin Franklin was also trying to prove to Leclerc that America could also produce
large powerful animals just like those that roamed Europe. The point of this research is to understand the
fascination that the founding fathers had surrounding these giant animals such as the mastodon and
mammoths and how they affected American ideology.
119. Global Connections Through Archaeology
Amanda Benge, Dept. of Anthropology, with Dr. Bernard Means, Dept. of Anthropology
Archaeology is able to use methods and techniques in order to research and uncover things from our shared
past to give us a better understanding of people and cultures that are no longer around. This research isn’t
designated to any one part of the world, thus allows for archaeologists to create a greater understanding of all
cultures in a global scale promoting a culturally relative perspective to those this knowledge is given. It is due
to the use of 3D scanning and printing of artifacts that archaeologists are able to bring these fragile and
unique objects into the hands of the public, so they are able to hold a part of history and make deeper
connections with the past. With the use of this technology archaeologists are able to bring wide variety of
artifacts for people to see from across the world without worry of the objects being destroyed or stolen. In the
Virtual Curation Lab at VCU, their collection of scanned 3D objects carries examples from nearly every part of
the world. I will showcasing a small portion of this collection, with artifacts that will showcase objects from
the old world.
120. The Determination of Genetic Diversity among brewing Saccharomyces Strains
Arjun Jogimahanti, VCU Honors College, Dept. of Biology with Dr. Fernando Tenjo, Dept. of Biology
The genus Saccharomyces contains several different species of yeast. Many of these species can be combined
or genetically altered to produce hybridized species and are used in many biotechnological and industrial
applications. In order to determine the genomic similarities and differences among brewing yeast species, PCR
fingerprinting, specifically using single primer analysis, are used to amplify a region in the genome and
compare the potential genomic differences among these species. Twelve different Saccharomyces species were
obtained and a distinct fingerprinting banding pattern was generated for each species using three different
primers: M13, (GTG)5, and (GACA)4. It was hypothesized that if the banding patterns of the different species is
unique, it can help to identify commercially brewing yeast strains and detect genomic variations through the
brewing process. Comparison of the banding patterns across the three primers revealed that S. kudriavzevii
and S. bayanus produced bands that contained that same number of base pairs that S. cerevisiae produced.
Thus, it was likely that these species are closely related to the model organism.
121. Effect of conductive additives on electrospun poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) nanofibers
Emma Rubin, Dept. of Chemical and Life Science Engineering, with Dr. Christina Tang, Dept. of Chemical and
Life Science Engineering
It is well known that exposure to community violence during adolescence has deleterious effects on various
health outcomes. Furthermore, research has shown that the resources and assets available to adolescents
directly influence their coping behaviors in the context of hassles (e.g. not enough bathrooms at home) and
may play a
Electrospinning has been widely used to develop produce non-woven nanofibers for
applications in biomaterials, energy materials, composites, catalysis, and sensors. In electrospinning, an
electric potential is applied between a capillary containing a polymer solution or melt and a grounded
collector. When the electric field strength overcomes surface tension, the polymer solution is drawn into a
nanofiber (30 nm to 10 μm in diameter). Despite its widespread use, electrospinning precise control over the
fiber diameter by changing process variables and solution properties remains a technical bottleneck.
We explore the effect of solution conductivity on the size of electrospun poly(vinyl pyrrolidone)
nanofibers. Specifically, additives (inorganic salts and polyelectrolytes) were used to tune the fiber size.
Uniform fibers between 172 nm and 700 nm were achieved. The molecular size of the ion was an important
consideration. Monoatomic salts such as sodium chloride (NaCl) had a greater influence over fiber diameter
than the diatomic salt calcium chloride (CaCl 2).
Poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) nanofibers containing sodium chloride were more uniform (smaller standard
deviation) than those containing calcium chloride. In addition, a correlation between salt concentration and
diameter was found: the higher the concentration, the smaller the average nanofiber diameter. At 25mM
sodium chloride, the average diameter of the fibers was 174 nm with a standard deviation of 32. At the same
concentration of calcium chloride, the average diameter was 234 nm with a standard deviation of 55. When
the concentration of sodium chloride was decreased to 5mM, the average diameter of the fibers was 202 nm
with a standard deviation of 63. At the same concentration of calcium chloride, the average diameter was 258
nm with an standard deviation of 54.
Chitosan, a polyelectrolyte that is insoluble in water, was also blended with poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) and
poly(vinyl alcohol). The results achieved were similar to that of the sodium chloride/ poly(vinyl pyrrolidone)
blend. The average nanofiber diameter was 172 nm with a standard deviation of 49.
122. Trait Mindfulness, Empathy, and Racism, predict Daily Helping Behaviors Toward Out
Group Members
Marguerite Armanyous, Kirk Warren Brown, and Daniel R. Berry, Dept. of Psychology
When it comes to helping others, several psychological traits, namely empathy, racism, and qualities of
attention like mindfulness play a role in how likely an individual is to demonstrate helping behaviors
(Graziano, et al., 2007). According to a study by Cikara and Zaki (2016), individuals are less likely to help
racial out-group members. This is a result of individuals perceiving a greater psychological distance between
self and other (Cikara et al. 2011). Recent studies suggest empathy training (Batson & Ahmad, 2009) can
improve intergroup relations and furthermore help reduce intergroup conflicts (Batson & Ahmad, 2009) and
mindfulness training (Berry & Brown, 2017). Research also showed that mindfulness, which is a state of
consciousness, differs from one individual to another (Brown & Ryan, 2003). We designed a correlational
study to examine whether different psychological traits - empathy, racism, mindfulness, and agreeablenesswould predict variation in daily helping behaviors specifically toward racial out-group members. Over 14 days,
the researchers observed self-identifying white participants (N=79), recorded social interactions with
strangers; these interactions included helping behaviors, positive interactions, and antagonistic interactions.
Mixed effects zero-inflated Poisson models revealed that mindfulness and empathy predicted more frequent
helping behavior while social dominance and racism predicted less helping (all ps < 0.05). Racial out-groups
members were helped less frequently than in group members (p<.05). Importantly, empathy tempered this
relation by showing equal helping among social categories (p<.05). This study highlights the potential for
empathy and mindfulness in increasing pro-social interactions toward social out- group members.
123. Nostalgia and Social Media Usage
Ashley Bacalso, VCU Honors College, with Anna Behler and Dr. Jeffrey Green, Dept. of Psychology
Nostalgia is an emotion that has been described as “bittersweet” because it is typically associated with
positive memories and emotions, but also involves a longing for the past. Research findings support the idea
of nostalgia as being two-sided in its affective nature, as it has been found that experiencing loneliness can
act as a catalyst for nostalgia, which then leads to greater feelings of social support. In a sense, nostalgia for
one’s past can serve as a protective buffer against loneliness in one’s present. Additionally, social media sites
such as Facebook allow individuals to reach out for social connection and also capitalize upon their users’
nostalgic feelings by offering features that allow users to view their previous activity on a particular day over
the course of time. In this study, VCU undergraduates (N = 405) took part in a survey that measured several
factors including nostalgia, loneliness, and social media use, along with self-esteem and depression. We
predicted that individuals higher in trait nostalgia would be more likely to report engaging in increased
nostalgic behaviors on social media. We also predicted that loneliness and depression would correlate
positively with these behaviors. Using a cluster analysis, we found that partial support for our hypotheses.
Results suggested that participants fell into three distinct groups that were characterized by their social
media usage patterns and self-reported levels of loneliness and depression.
Reliability and Validity of an Adapted Version of the Cognitive-Behavioral Treatment for
Anxiety in Youth Competence Scale (CBAY-C)
Diane Keister, Ashley Bacalso, Stephanie Violante, Bryce D. McLeod, Michael Southam-Gerow
The measurement of competence, characterized by a therapist’s responsiveness and skillfulness in delivering
an intervention (Perepletchikova & Kazdin, 2005), is an important component of treatment integrity research
(Hagermoser Sanetti & Kratochwill, 2009). The Cognitive-Behavioral Treatment for Anxiety in Youth
Competence Scale (CBAY-C) is an observational instrument that was developed to capture therapist
competence in the delivery of key practice elements in individual cognitive-behavioral therapy (ICBT) for youth
anxiety (McLeod et al., 2016). The initial items on the CBAY-C Scale showed evidence of reliability and
representational validity. Recently, there has been a shift toward modularized approaches to treatment
wherein evidence-based practice elements are used to treat a variety of child problem areas, including
anxiety, depression, trauma, and conduct problems. In response to this shift, the CBAY-C was adapted to
capture therapist competence to these common practice elements. This study aims to replicate previous
reliability and validity findings of the CBAY-C when including ten new items that cover a broader range of
problem areas. The adapted CBAY-C was used to assess therapeutic interventions delivered as part of
Standard Modularized Treatment (SMT), Modular MATCH Treatment (MMT), and usual care (UC) in
community settings (Weisz et al., 2012). This study was conducted with a sample of 796 recordings from 38
children with anxiety disorders who were treated by 26 therapists in two clinical sites. None of the items on
the CBAY-C scale exhibited the full range on a 7- point Likert-type scale. Most of the original items exhibited
a range between 4 and 5.5 points while the new items exhibited a range between 2 and 4.5. Most of the
original scale items were coded with some frequency, however seven out of the ten new items were not coded
or coded only once. Of the 20 coded items, ICCs were “excellent” for 11 items, “good” for four items, “fair” for
three items, and “poor” for two items (Cicchetti, 1994). However, the items with “poor” reliability exhibited
limited frequency. Preliminary data showed mixed results for discriminant validity with between-item
correlations ranging from r = -.003 to r = .885 and correlations between competence and alliance scores
ranging from r = .003 to r = .907. The mixed results indicate the need for further exploration of observational
measures used to capture competence in the use of modular treatments.
124. Mastodons vs Wealth
Nathan Parks, Dept. of Health, Human Performance and Exercise Science, with Dr. Bernard Means, Dept. of
Anthropology
The researcher explores how possession of mastodon bones was a symbol of wealth and power in Colonial
America. This project seeks to show how the biggest known land mammal was sought after by the wealthy so
those of elite socio-economic status could display a piece of this animal to symbolize that they had the
resources and knowledge to go out and find and recognize these bones so that they could go back to their
large estates and talk about it and show it off amongst their fellow rich friends.
125. A20 expression in human macrophages in response to oral bacteria
Linder, Grace, Mooney, Erin, Xia-Juan, Xia, Sahingur, S. Esra.
1Department
of Periodontics, 2Philips Institute for Oral Health Research, School of Dentistry, Virginia
Commonwealth University,
Objective: Periodontal disease is a common disease caused by a shift of tissue homeostasis inducing a
dysbiotic microbiota. This leads to a deregulated immune response of inflammation, which induces the
destruction of tooth supporting structures. Persistent forms of the disease are also associated with various
systemic diseases. Therefore, it is important to identify molecules within the host immune system to
maintain tissue homeostasis and prevent local and systemic adverse effects. Previous studies in our lab had
identified A20 as a possible regulator of inflammation in periodontitis. A20 is a downstream signaling
molecule involved in the pathway of periodontal inflammation. The aim of this study is to determine the
function of A20 in response to periodontal bacteria P. gingivalis and F. nucleatum.
Methods: Human macrophage-like cells (THP-1) cells were challenged with heat-killed P. gingivalis (MOI
100:1). A20 mRNA and protein levels were determined at 1, 3, 6 and 12 hours using qPCR and Western blot.
Statistical analyses included ANOVA with Dunnett multiple comparisons. p<0.05 was considered significant
Results: P.gingivalis induced significantly increased A20 gene and protein expression in THP-1 cells.
Conclusion: This is the first study which demonstrated A20 expression in response to an oral bacteria.
Further studies are needed to fully understand the role of A20 in periodontal disease pathogenesis.
126. Perception of Work-Related Demands in Employees With an Internal vs External Locus
of Control
Austin Skinner, Kataleeya Cashion, Zachary Beland, Sawyer Wilkins with Dr. Charles Calderwood, Dept. of
Psychology
In this study, we sought to evaluate if employees who believe outcomes in their life are more controlled by
external forces (external locus of control) perceive higher levels of work-related demands. We suggest that
individuals who perceive themselves as having an internal locus of control will perceive work stressors as
something they can work to reduce. On the other hand, we suggest that individuals who perceive themselves
as having an external locus of control will perceive stress in the work environment as beyond their ability to
fix. In order to examine the possible relationship between perceived locus of control and job demands, a
cross-sectional online survey was administered to a group of undergraduate, part-time worker participants.
The participants of this cross-sectional online survey (N = 521) were required to be at least 18 years of age
and work at least 20 hours per week in a paid employment position. Measured employee job demands
included perceived role conflict, perceived role ambiguity, self-reported conflict at work, and perceived time
pressure at work. We hypothesize that employees who possess an external locus of control will also self-report
experiencing a significantly higher amount of role conflict, role ambiguity, conflict at work, and time pressure
at work. If our findings support our hypotheses, this will have implications for future research regarding the
potential risks of selecting employees who possess a more external locus of control. Specifically, employees
with a more external locus of control might be more prone to perceive higher job stress, which may influence
their health and well-being.
127. Separation of Blood Mixtures Using Fluorescently Labeled Antibodies and Flow
Cytometry
Dani Jabado, with Dr. Christopher Ehrhardt, Department of Forensic Science
Identifying and analyzing biological mixture samples at a crime scene are of paramount concern for forensic
scientists, especially if that type of evidence contains only one cell type. This type of evidence makes a greater
impact on the reorganization, identification, and reconstruction, of a criminal investigation, than any
circumstantial evidence. Furthermore, it provides essential information concerning the nature of the crime that
occurred, as well as link/exclude potential suspects to the crime in question. The presence of multiple
contributors in a biological evidence sample also reduces the probative value of DNA evidence and can
sometimes lead to its eventual loss of value. As such, this study was performed in an attempt to examine and
evaluate flow cytometry analysis as a means to separate blood mixture samples labeled with fluorescent
antibodies. Fluorescein Isothiocyanate (FITC) antibodies specifically targeted and were bound to HLA (Human
Leukocyte Antigens) markers present on nucleated cells present in the blood, after which they were isolated
from the blood mixture utilizing Fluorescent Activated Cell Sorting (FACS) - A high throughput technique that
separates cell populations based on their optical activity, followed by STR analysis. This approach was tested
on fresh and dried blood mixtures containing two contributors, where one contributor possessed an HLA A*02
allele that was not shared with the other contributor. We hypothesize that HLA A*02 positive samples would
exhibit fluorescence when bound with the fluorescently labeled antibodies while the HLA A*02 negative samples
would not. As such, we would be able to separate both cell populations using FACS followed by STR analysis.
Such a work flow is believed to yield discriminant STR profiles unique to each contributor thus increasing the
probative value of the evidence at hand. Results supported our hypothesis and yielded discriminant STR profiles
for both contributors, with minor peaks from the A*02 negative contributor being observed in A*02 positive
contributor sample. We can then conclude that HLA-A*02 antibodies coupled to FACS is a suitable method that
can be utilized to evaluate and separate blood mixture samples in an attempt to yield discriminant STR profiles.
Keywords: FACS; Flow Cytometry Analysis; HLA A*02; Antibody Hybridization; Blood
labeled
Analysis; FITC
128. Middle School Students' Perceptions of the Usefulness of Second Step Youth Violence
Prevention Lessons on Communication and Empathy
Melanie Crabtree, Allison Cherry, Tashawna Floyd, with Dr. Terri Sullivan, Dept. of Psychology
The Second Step youth violence prevention program focuses on promoting positive social and emotional
development. A number of outcome evaluations exist for this program (e.g., McMahon & Washburn, 2003),
however, few studies address students’ perceptions of the usefulness of Second Step (see Farrell, Mehari, Mays,
Sullivan, & Le, 2015 for an exception). The current study evaluated the students’ perceptions the usefulness of
Second Step lessons addressing communication and empathy. Participants included 74 middle school students
(57% male), a majority of whom identified themselves as African American or Black. This study included
students with and without high incidence disabilities, and was part of a larger study evaluating the effectiveness
of Second Step. All study procedures were approved by the University Institutional Review Board. For lessons
related to empathy, 77% of students reported using these skills; 50% reported that these skills worked “pretty
good” or “great” while 10% reported they did not work well. Of students who used skills related to empathy,
64% were confident and 12% were not confident in using these skills. For lessons related to communication,
almost all of the students (92%) reported that they had used these skills. Of these students, 75% reported that
the skills worked “pretty good” or “great” and only 4% noted that these skills did not work well. Of student who
used skills related to communication, 63% were confident and 19% were not confident in using these skills.
Additional qualitative analyses will be presented to provide insight as to why students did or did not use a
specific skill, what kinds of reactions they received when using a particular skill, situations that influenced
their ability to use a skill, and why or why not they would use certain skills in the future. Further implications
of this research will be discussed.
129. Sacred & Sculpted
Lauryn Pulium, Dept. of Anthropology, with Dr. Bernard Means, Dept. of Anthropology
This exhibit focuses on ancient artistic works of various human, animal, and deity pieces created around the
globe. The figures displayed will be covering five different cultures and four different periods. Costa Rican clay
figures from 1000 AD, a modern African carved bone faze; a Kushan period deity sculpture; a Ganesh
sculpture. These pieces display the unique and diverse cultural expression through sculpture.
130. Single-Step Preparation of Gold-Loaded Nanoreactors by Polymer Directed Self
Assembly
Tien Vuong, with Dr. Christina Tang, Dept. of Chemical and Life Science Engineering
Multifunctional nanoreactors that combine reaction and separation can lead to more efficient reactions and
reduce hazardous waste. For liquid-phase oxidation reactions, gold nanoparticles can be encapsulated within
a polymer microenvironment to achieve catalyzed reaction and product isolation by spontaneous phase
separation. Nanoreactors can be achieved using a two-step approach in which gold nanoparticles are
synthesized and then encapsulated using Flash NanoPrecipitation, a polymer-directed self-assembly method.
The structure of the nanoreactors has been analyzed by with dynamic light scattering (DLS), transmission
electron microscopy (TEM) imaging, and UV-Vis spectroscopy. Gold-loaded nanoreactors between 50 nm to
300nm have been achieved by varying the amounts of amphiphilic block copolymer stabilizer and gold
nanoparticles. Next, we aim to combine gold nanoparticle synthesis and encapsulation into a single-step
process. Specifically, we combine a gold precursor with a reducing agent and amphiphilic block copolymer
stabilizer using a confined impinging jet mixer. Currently, we are investigating the effect of the strength of the
reducing agent.
131. Public Archaeology
Adam Blakemore, Dept. of Anthropology, with Dr. Bernard Means, Dept. of Anthropology
World War 1, for most of the soldiers involved, was an awful experience: nearly 17 million soldiers and
civilians were killed in a war which many felt had no purpose. Through 3D printing, I hope to reproduce some
of the average soldier’s kit, giving people a tangible idea of the kinds of equipment they carried. I intend to use
3D scanning and printing technology to give people a physical representation of an incredibly significant
historical event that happened almost a century ago.
132. Reliability and Representational Validity of an Adapted Version of the CognitiveBehavioral Therapy for Anxiety in Youth Adherence Scale (CBAY-A)
Stephanie Violante, Chantelle Miller, and Lucas Melo, with Dr. Bryce McLeod, Dept. of Psychology
The measurement of adherence, the extent to which the therapy occurred as intended, is a key aspect of
treatment integrity research and critical for identifying gaps in implementation of evidence-based treatments.
The Cognitive–Behavioral Therapy for Anxiety in Youth Adherence Scale (CBAY-A) is an observational measure
designed to capture therapist adherence to common practice elements found in individual cognitive-behavioral
therapy (ICBT) for youth anxiety. The initial items on the CBAY-A scale showed evidence of reliability and
representational validity (Southam-Gerow et al., 2016). With the recent shift toward modularized treatment
approaches, there is a need for reliable and valid measures of adherence to evidence-based practice elements
that span a variety of child problem areas, including anxiety, depression, trauma, and conduct problems. This
study aims to replicate our previous findings with a new sample. In particular, we examined the interrater
reliability of the CBAY-A items. Additionally, we assessed convergent validity of the item scores with scores on
an observational measure that measured cognitive and behavioral interventions (TPOCS-RS). Finally, we
assessed discriminant validity by examining the magnitude of the correlations among the scores on the model
items. We conducted this study with a sample of 796 recordings from 38 children with anxiety disorders who
were treated by 26 therapists in two clinical sites.
133. Evaluation of the Moderation of Anxiety Sensitivity on the Impact of Drinking Motives
on AUD in Trauma-Exposed OIF/OEF Veterans
Zackaria Niazi, Christina Sheerin, Ruth Brown, Erin Berenz, Scott McDonald, Treven Pickett, Carla Kmett
Danielson, Suzanne Thomas, Ananda B. Amstadter
Background: Following trauma exposure, alcohol use disorder (AUD) and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
are common outcomes and have high rates of comorbidity. One possible mechanism for this association is
through individual’s drinking motives. This includes coping motives, resulting in individuals who self-medicate
with alcohol (i.e., drinking to cope) and enhancement motives, where individuals drink in order to feel positive
emotions. Such motives may put one at more at risk for negative outcomes, such as AUD and PTSD. Thus, it
is important to identify factors associated with increased likelihood to self-medicate or drink to enhance
emotions. One such factor may be the presence of other anxiety conditions or anxiety-related traits. For
example, while Anxiety Sensitivity (AS) is correlated with PTSD symptoms, it is unknown how AS may interact
with drinking motives to increase risk for problematic alcohol use. It is also unknown whether this pattern
differs in individuals with current PTSD.
Aims: In order to better understand the relationship between AS and drinking motives on negative outcomes
in the aftermath of trauma, it is important to examine the potential moderating effects of AS on drinking motives
in trauma-exposed samples. This study aimed to examine whether AS moderates the impact of drinking motives
on AUD and other alcohol phenotypes in a trauma-exposed sample. A secondary aim of the study was to
examine whether this relationship differed in individuals with current PTSD.
Methods: The present sample consists of a trauma-exposed subsample (N = 299, 88.6% Male, age = 30.56 ±
4.5 SD) from a larger study of OIF/OEF veterans. Trauma exposure and PTSD status were determined via
diagnostic interview with the Clinician Administered PTSD Scale (CAPS; 30.3% PTSD positive). Participants also
completed self-report measures including the Anxiety Sensitivity Index (ASI), Drinking Motives Questionnaire
(DMQ; using the Social, Coping, and Enhancement subscales), and the Timeline Followback (TLFB; with
outcome measures including number of binge drinking days and total number of drinks/month). Primary
analyses consisted of linear regressions examining the main and interaction effects of DMQ Social, Coping, and
Enhancement subscales, ASI, and the interaction of DMQ subscales and ASI on 2 outcomes: number of binge
drinking days and total numbers of drinks/month. In order to determine if the patterns differed in individuals
with PTSD, secondary analyses were run using the same models only on individuals who met criteria for
combat-related PTSD via the CAPS.
Results: In the linear regression examining total number of drinks per month, a main effect of Enhancement
(Beta = 0.31, 95% CI = 2.27-4.76, p < 0.001), as well as a main effect of Coping (Beta = 0.20, 95% CI = 1.0164.76, p = 0.003) motives was found. The interaction of Coping and ASI was found to be significant (Beta = 0.15, 95% CI = -0.43- -0.02, p = 0.02). The same results were found in the linear regression of total number of
binge days, with Enhancement (Beta = 0.25, 95% CI = 0.14-0.50, p < 0.001) and Coping (Beta = 0.14, 95% CI
= 0.003-0.40, p = 0.04) demonstrating a main effect and a Coping and ASI interaction effect (Beta = -0.15, 95%
CI = -0.04- -0.002, p = 0.03). None of the models demonstrated a main effect of ASI or Social motives.
In the secondary analyses, examining only those with PTSD, the pattern of findings was somewhat similar. In
the regression analysis of total number of drinks per month on drinking motives, no significant main effects
were found. The Enhancement and ASI interaction (Beta = 0.37, 95% CI = 0.06-0.86, p = 0.02) as well as the
Coping and ASI interaction (Beta = -0.50, 95% CI = -1.19- -0.17, p = 0.009) were found to be significant. In the
regression analysis of total number of binge days, results did not differ with the trauma-exposed sample.
Additional work will further examine the interaction effects in order to determine their pattern. None of the
models demonstrated a main effect of ASI or Social motives.
Discussion: Both Enhancement and Coping motives were found to have a weak, significant main effect on total
number of drinks per month for primary and secondary analyses, in line with existing literature. The interaction
of Coping and ASI demonstrated a slight negative, moderating effect of ASI on the impact of drinking to cope on
total number of drinks per month, such that higher ASI increased the impact of coping motives on increased
likelihood of alcohol consumption. The same pattern was found with total number of binge days, suggesting
that both drinking behaviors are impacted similarly. Although the pattern of findings was broadly similar in the
trauma-exposed and the PTSD only subset, Enhancement motives on drinking appear to be particularly relevant
for individuals with PTSD, and requires further examination.
Limitations of this study includes the cross-sectional nature of the study, preventing the ability to determine
whether increased drinking started before or after trauma exposure. In addition, the study solely examines
combat trauma-exposed and PTSD diagnosed veterans. Results could be different among individuals who have
experienced different forms of trauma or with other psychiatric outcomes, such as major depression.
134. From Victorian Fairy Tale to Fantasy Novel: Lilith, "The Golden Bird," "The Twelve
Dancing Princesses," and "The Salad"
Melissa Allbrandt, VCU Honors College, Depts. of English and Public Relations, with Prof. Mary Boyes, VCU Honors
College
There has been very little research on the early progression of fantastic literature and the origin of the fantasy
genre. I studied the transition from fairy tales to fantasy during the Victorian Era, represented “The Golden
Bird,” “The Twelve Dancing Princesses,” “The Salad,” and Lilith by George MacDonald, because I wanted to
know what elements of the Romantic Movement or the Victorian Era may have influenced the evolution, in
order to help my reader understand how the Romantic Movement opened a space for the implementation of
novelistic techniques in fantasy. I have examined these fairy tales and Lilith and compared them to each
other. I have also surveyed discussions of early fantasy, the Romantic Movement, and the development of
realism to discover what elements may account for the differences discovered in comparison, which may
indicate an influence in the shift. I also researched George MacDonald to discover what personal influences
may have led him to fantasy. I have found that George MacDonald was influenced by, but not part of the
Romantic Movement, which glorified fairy tales and the fantastic. I have also found that Lilith incorporates
novelistic techniques and moral views not found in writings from major Romantic writers or others from the
period, which points to influence from the novel form. This topic could merit a study into the cultural reasons
for a collective push into realism while holding onto fantastic desires.
135. Gender Bias Surrounding Ground Stone
William Swilley, Dept. of Anthropology, with Dr. Bernard Means, Dept. of Anthropology
This project I will be studying ground stone tools and their relation to women in the archeological record.
Specifically the possible bias in the archeological community against studying women and therefore ground
stone tools (due to their association). I will be compiling case examples of ground stone excavations and
comparing the level of detail and interpretation that went into their excavation compared to other artifacts and
ecofacts from those sites.
136. Social Awareness Campaigns: Raising Awareness on Human Trafficking in India
Neha Pondicherry, Dept. of Religious Studies, with Prof. Mary Boyes, VCU Honors College
Human trafficking is a persistent international problem that results in the subjugation of over 1 million
people annually. The mass exploitation and abuse of humans for personal gain has taken many different
forms over the span of history, including slavery, domestic servitude, labor bondage, etc.
Many social media campaigns are not successful in India because they do not take into account the lack of
education and minimal access to technology and other methods of communication. Rural villages actually
respond most effectively to media use. In my research, I devised an entirely new social awareness campaign to
be executed in India that includes televised soap operas, talk shows on the radio by actual victims of human
trafficking, social media notifications, and informational videos/alerts on communication apps such as
WhatsApp. The campaign will also utilize various aspects of successful Australian social campaigns, including
their content and methods of information dissemination.
137. The Effects of Substrate Stiffness and ECM Protein Coating on Macrophage Activation
Emily Burtch, Jefferson Overlin, Kelly Hotchkiss, Dr. René Olivares-Navarrete, Dept. of Biomedical Engineering
Introduction: Polymers, specifically hydrogels, are an attractive biomaterial option due to their ability to
mimic the chemical and physical cues of different tissues. Implanted biomaterials interact with the immune
system to generate a response which will determine the fate of the material. Cells of the immune system,
macrophages, will regulate the response to synthetic and biological biomaterials. A chronic inflammatory
response leads to fibrotic scar formation (5-10 times stiffer than healthy tissue). During early wound healing
fibronectin is the main extracellular matrix protein (ECM) protein, followed by collagen-I in late wound
healing. Previous studies have shown higher stiffness substrates lead to pro-inflammatory macrophage
phenotype. While additional studies have linked collagen-I coatings with reduced pro-inflammatory
macrophage activation. The aim of this study was to determine if protein coating or gel stiffness would have a
stronger regulatory effect on macrophage activation.
Materials and Methods: Polyacrylamide (PA) gels were prepared (0.5 kPa, 2kPa, 20kPa and 40 kPa) and ECM
proteins (PBS, FBS, Collagen I and Fibronectin) covalently bound to the surface. Primary macrophages were
differentiated from bone marrow isolated and differentiated from 8 week male C57BL/6 mice before plating on
gels for 24 hours. Macrophage activation was measured by gene expression and protein secretion of pro(IL1β, IL6, Tnfα) and anti- (IL4, IL10, IL13) inflammatory markers.
Results: Increased levels of pro-inflammatory factors were present at high stiffness with both proteins,
suggesting a stronger immune response to the 40kPa gels compared to 0.5kPa. Similar to gene expression
results, macrophages on both stiffness gels coated in collagen type I released reduced amounts of proinflammatory proteins. Fibronectin coating showed elevated levels of pro-inflammatory factors at both
stiffness levels.
Conclusion: Overall, protein coating had a greater ability than gel stiffness to control macrophage activation.
Higher stiffness polyacrylamide hydrogels coated in fibronectin resulted in increased pro-inflammatory factor
release. A stronger anti-inflammatory phenotype was present in hydrogels with lower stiffness and collagen-I
coating. These results can be applied to controlling macrophage activation and ultimately the immune
response from biomaterials.
138. Exploring the Resilience of Black Culture: Caches and Cash
David Cunningham, Dept. of Anthropology, with Dr. Bernard Means, Dept. of Anthropology
It is important that we work to construct a dynamic view of Black peoples past here in the Americas. These
were people who endured many experiences that shaped their identity today. The enslaved played a vital role
in the development of our society. Their forced labor allowed the initial colonies to have economic security. I
would like to use archaeology to shed light on these hidden societies and track the development of Black
identity. This should allow our modern society to develop a more meaningful connection to our past. At that
point, we may be able to take responsibility for our actions from the past into the future.
Research design: In my research I will aim to find out more about the lives of Blacks living in America during
its infant stages. Through analyses I will find out where and how they drew the line drawn between bare
necessities and supplemental commodities. I hope to highlight aspects of the material record are consistent
with Black culture today by comparing my findings to contemporary black life. I plan to use many more sources
as my research continues, but I have come across a few texts that might be useful. Archaeology and Slave
Resistance and Rebellion at the very least will offer a more intimate perspective of the material culture of the
enslaved. Rebellions are an aspect that could help shed the “victim” image of the enslaved. “When Her Thousand
Chimneys Smoked” Virginia's Enslaved Cooks and Their Kitchens details the work life and eating habits of the
enslaved. Also, can provide context for any food related artifacts. Archaeology and Slave Resistance and
Rebellion would provides insight on early enslaved Africans and their values. Not only would like to know what
they define as worth keeping, but what they are and are not allowed to have. I will be using the following digital
items in this study: Raccoon Baculum worn as Pendant (VCU_3D_2136), GW's False Teeth, Top Half
(VCU_3D_2133), GW's False Teeth, Bottom Half (VCU_3D_2132), Stone Pipe Blank (VCU_3D_549), and Quartz
Point from Ritual Cache (VCU_3D_1882). At least one of the artifacts will be printed for use in the presentation
of the poster. Through my research I expect to reveal idioms of Black spirituality that survived the Atlantic
Slave Trade. I also expect to uncover stories of economic activism amongst the enslaved that deconstruct the
idea that Blacks merely accepted the conditions of slavery. Ultimately, I expect to reinforce that Blacks have
maintained a collective culture; before, throughout, and after being violently trafficked across the globe.
139. Zombies, Resistance, and the Subversive Power of Cultural Assimilation within Indigenous
Cinema
Zoe Sarris, VCU Honors College, Dept. of Cinema, with Dr. Cristina Stanciu, Dept. of English
This study examines dramatic elements of the visual storytelling language within First Nations Jeff
Barnaby’s film Rhymes For Young Ghouls. With a focused analysis of the film, I explore the ways in which
Western cinematic genre conventions have been subverted by indigenous artists and filmmakers to create a
communal narrative of experience and visibility. Specifically, Rhymes for Young Ghouls subverts tropes of
zombie horror as an aesthetic tool that helps articulate the psychological anguish, anxiety, and pain inherited
by the First Nation’s People of Canada living displaced on colonized land. I use two major research strategies:
(1) analyzing works done by scholars active within the sphere of indigenous studies and (2) by researching the
cinematic works and movements surrounding indigenous history and identity. This presentation challenges
the argument that assimilation is inherently and entirely dangerous and unproductive. While it can be
difficult to understand assimilation without associating it with the cultural, historical, and spiritual
degredation of an oppressed minority group under Imperial rule, I propose it is far more important to see how
those within the system of colonization and assimilation can create spaces for subversion and ultimately
resistance. Indigenous artists and storytellers have created a language of resistance through film and
literature by revising inherited Western traditions and using them as a platform through which tribal
communities may heal from past and current trauma whilst simultaneoulsy demanding the mainstream
visibility that has been denied them.
140. Extension of RBC Longevity and Functionality in the Prevention of Graft Versus Host
Disease
Shanmuka Gadiraju1 Maryanne Collinson2 , Ramesh Natarajan3
1 Department of Chemistry, VCU Honors College 2 Department of Chemistry3 Department of Internal Medicine,
Given today’s current scientific method of preservation, red blood cells (RBCs) donated or drawn from live
humans have a storage life of approximately 42 days, after which the blood will be discarded due to of
degradation of the RBCs. The mechanism that drives said degradation is known as oxidative stress, in which
the cells’ inability to balance out the creation and excretion of free radicals causes a conformational change in
the shape and efficacy of RBCs. In order to counteract the oxidative actions upon the cells, it has been
thought that the addition of reducing agents, specifically ascorbic acid, the reduced form of Vitamin C, to the
matrix in which the cells are stored can push back the adverse effects of oxidation, allowing the cells to be
stored for at least 56 days. The method by which we quantify the efficacy of the said ascorbic acid treatment
involves the measurement of blood redox potential using Nanoporous Gold Electrodes (NPGs). By using
nanoporous electrodes in contrast to the more conventional planar electrodes, we can minimize the effects of
biofouling on the electrochemical response, giving us more reproducible and consistent results. Through
Open Circuit Potential (OCP) measurements, we have measured the redox potential of packed RBCs in both
large volumes (milliliters) and in single drops (submicroliters) over a 56-day period. The general statistical
trend of the results of the OCPs over the past few months seems to suggest that the ascorbic acid treatment
does indeed help stabilize the redox potential of RBCs.
141. An analysis of genetic differences between generations of brewing Saccharomyces and
identification of the presence of microorganisms in an unknown sample
Quinnie Phan, VCU Honors College, Dept. of Chemistry, with Dr. Fernando Tenjo, Dept. of Biology
It has been come to know that the genome of the yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, can be used as a model
system in genetic research. Yeast have dispersed cells and can undergo induced genetic mutation. They are
more genetically complex than bacteria yet can still undergo rapid reproduction. S. cerevisiae has both a
stable haploid and diploid state; recessive mutations manifest in the haploid strains while complementation
tests can be performed on the diploid strains 1. Saccharomyces have become useful for studying evolutionary
genomics as high-quality genome sequences are available for the known species. Key industrial hybrids have
evolved from the seven natural species of Saccharomyces. These industrial hybrids are important to breweries
and vineyards2. This study uses three commercial strains of yeast—Safale, Bohemian Lager, and Safbrew—
with the primers: (GTG)5, (GACA)4, and the M13 sequence GAGGGTGGCGGTTCT. Single Primer Amplification
Reactions (SPAR), along with PCR-fingerprinting were used to analyze the genetic differences between
respective generations of these three strains of brewing Saccharomyces. The SPAR markers produce a unique
set of patterns that can detect the presence of yeast hybrids. 3 Additionally, identification of yeast and the
presence of bacteria in an unknown sample of beer given from a local brewery company in Richmond was
undertaken. The goal of this project is to relay brewing conditions to characteristics of beer, such as aroma,
flavor, and appearance, and to develop a consistency in the brewing process.
142. Noxa and a BCL-2 inhibitor work together to cause efficient apoptosis in HNSCC
Essam Abed, Dept. of Biology, with Dr. Hisashi Harada, Philips Institute for Oral Health Research, Massey
Cancer Center
Head and neck cancer is the 7th leading cancer worldwide. Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC)
accounts for approximately 90% of Head and Neck cancer cases. An effective treatment to HNSCC has
remained elusive despite multiple treatments being tried. Surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation in the past
30 years have done very little to improve survival rates. In a previous study, we demonstrated the
susceptibility of HNSCC cell lines to a protein called PMAIP1. PMAIP1 (known as Noxa) is a pro-death protein
that inhibits the pro-survival protein MCL-1. We theorize that when combined with a drug such as ABT-263,
which induces cell death in cancer cells by inhibiting pro-survival proteins BCL-2 and BCL-xL, both Noxa and
ABT-263 will work together to cause even more cell death via their distinct targets. Furthermore, our
hypothesis is that Noxa/Noxa combination treatments will induce massive cell death in the HNSCC mouse
models. In this study, we tried to establish Noxa-mediated treatment in vitro.
Methods: We examined apoptosis using a semi-quantitative method called Western Blot, which allowed us to
take a “snapshot” of cells and compared to each protein by thickness/size of the bands detected by specific
antibodies. Furthermore, we used a quantitative method called FACS analysis which allowed us to measure
the amount of cell death using Annexin V-Propidium Iodide staining and determine the stage of apoptosis.
1
Sherman, F. (2002). Getting started with yeast. Guide to Yeast Genetics and Molecular and Cell Biology - Part B Methods in
Enzymology, 3-41. doi:10.1016/s0076-6879(02)50954-x
2
Hittinger, C. T. (2013). Saccharomyces diversity and evolution: a budding model genus. Trends in Genetics, 29(5), 309-317.
doi:10.1016/j.tig.2013.01.002
3
Santos, S. K., Basílio, A. C., Brasileiro, B. T., Simões, D. A., Silva-Filho, E. A., & Morais, M. D. (2007). Identification of
The drugs used were ABT-263 (BCL-2 + BCL-xL inhibitor), ABT-199 (BCL-2 inhibitor) and A-1331852 (BCL-xL
inhibitor).
Results: Noxa alone is evidently causing plenty of cell death in certain cell lines, while Noxa and ABT-263
combination is causing much more in other cell lines. Overall, more data will be needed before drawing
conclusions.
143. Examining the Relationship Between Substance Use (Tobacco, Alcohol, Marijuana, and
Prescription Drugs) and Sexual Risk Behaviors among College Students
Mohammed Noh, Abel Gebregziabher, Dept. of Health Physical Education and Exercise with Dr. Faye Belgrave,
PhD and Melanie Moore, M.S.. Dept. of Psychology
Introduction: High risk sexual behaviors play a key role in the transmission of human immunodeficiency
virus (HIV) and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs) among young adults. According to the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), nearly half of the 20 million new cases of STIs each year are among
young people aged 15–24 years. In addition, adolescents and young adults ages 13 to 24 represent 1 in 5 new
cases of HIV infection. Given that substance use is known to impair judgment and decision making, it has
been suggested that their use in combination with sexual activity might increase the probability that risky
behavior will occur. This study aims to examine the relationship between substance use and sexual risk
behaviors among young adult Black college students. Method: Data were collected post-test from participants
who completed the VOICES/VOCES intervention program. VOICES/VOCES is an evidenced-based program
designed to promote safer sexual behaviors, condom use skills, and condom negotiation skills among young
Black adults. Participants completed a survey of questions about on sexual risk behaviors, substance use,
HIV knowledge, in addition to personal demographics. The sample for this study consisted of male and female
college students. Results: Descriptive analyses will be performed to determine the percentage of students who
reported use of tobacco, alcohol, illegal drugs, marijuana, or prescription drug use without a doctor’s order.
Logistic regression analyses will be performed to determine any significant relationships between self-reported
use of the above substances and whether participants engaged in protected or unprotected sex during their
last sexual encounter. Conclusions: Significant findings may be important in determining which, if any,
substances are most associated with engagement in unprotected sex. These findings may also be of interest to
on-campus organizations that focus on HIV/STI prevention, in determining which types of services are needed
in terms of reducing risky sexual behaviors among college populations.
144. An Examination of Skin Complexion Satisfaction and Self-Esteem Among College Black
Women
Ashley MacDougald, Dept. of Psychology, with Dr. Faye Belgrave, Dept. of Psychology
Introduction: Colorism is a prevalent issue among the Black community that particularly affects Black
women. Colorism is defined as prejudice or discrimination against individuals with a dark skin tone, typically
among people of the same ethnic or racial group. It has been reported that women of darker skin tones have
lower positive attitudes about the self. This is partly due to societal standards of what is considered attractive,
and frequent exposure to negative messages about their natural physical features. The purpose of the current
study is to examine the relationship between skin color satisfaction and self-esteem among young Black
women. It is hypothesized that lower skin color satisfaction will be associated with poorer self-esteem.
Method: Young Black college women aged 18 and older participated in an online cross-sectional study which
collected self-reports of body image, self-esteem, skin color satisfaction, ethnic identity, and general selfefficacy.
Results: A linear regression test will be utilized to examine the relationship between skin complexion
satisfaction and self-esteem by using the Skin Color Satisfaction Scale and the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale.
Descriptive analyses will also be performed on the above scales in addition to overall participant
demographics.
Conclusion/Implications: Young Black women having low self-esteem due to their skin complexion can
affect mental health, physical health, and overall confidence. Examining the relationship between skin color
satisfaction and self-esteem is important given that moderate to high self-esteem is an important aspect of
well-being. This study, in addition to future research, may bring important awareness to issues surrounding
colorism and their effect on self-esteem among young Black women.
145. Does Parental Support Moderate the Association between Peer Victimization and
Depression in Children?
Leah Millard, Erin Brannan, Dept. of Psychology, with Dr. Wendy Kliewer, Dept. of Psychology
The purpose of this study is to determine the extent to which parental support can buffer the relation between
peer victimization and level of depression in children ages 9-16. Our study aims to expand on the limited
literature examining parental support as a moderating variable between peer victimization and depression in
youth. Although previous research has examined associations between peer victimization, depression, and
parental support, the majority of that work has been conducted with Caucasians from middle- to highsocioeconomic backgrounds (Harper, 2011); very few research studies addressed this question in samples
with low socioeconomic status. We will analyze data from Project Cope, a four-year longitudinal study which
utilized a low income, urban sample comprised of 191 fifth graders and 167 eighth graders. In our sample of
358 students, ages of participants ranged from 9-16 (M=12.13, SD= 1.62), just under half (46.4%) were male,
and most (91.9%) were African American. We anticipate that parental support will decrease the strength of
the positive association between peer victimization and child depression. We plan to use multiple linear
regression to test our hypothesis, as our variables are all continuous. We plan to control for age, as peer
victimization may decrease as age increases. If our hypothesis is supported by the analyses of the data
presented from Project Cope, the findings will validate the current views on the positive impact of parental
support throughout childhood.
146. Restoring Context to Art of the Moche
Daisy Matias, Dept. of Anthropology, with Dr. Bernard Means, Dept. of Anthropology
Due to the large amount of Pre-Columbian artifacts in existence, the archaeological context of many is
lost. When this context is lost, very little is known about the artifact, and further research must be done to try
and restore the context. In my research I restored the context of two Moche figurines in the collection of the
Virginia Museum of Natural History. In order to gather the data I needed, I first 3D printed and painted
replicas of the two artifacts. I then studied the uses and origins of similar Moche Artifacts, referencing the
stylistic and formal attributes of the artifacts in the literature to my objects of study. Finally, I discussed my
findings with a Pre-Columbian art historian, and together we assigned possible uses and places of origin to
the two artifacts.
147. White-Tailed Deer Activity and Preferred Habitat Type in and Around the James River
Park System
Emma Davis, Dept. of Biology, with Dr. Anne Wright, Dept. of Biology
The goal of this research project is to determine how White-tailed Deer are moving into the James River Park
System (JRPS) in Richmond, Virginia, and if their activity within the system is linked to the wildlife corridors
that they are using. Determining the areas that the deer are using to travel will allow us to better direct
conservation efforts within the JRPS. Deer activity was determined for each wildlife camera site based on the
number of visits to each site. Data was collected from November 2016 – January 2017, and memory cards
were collected biweekly. The canopy cover surrounding the JRPS was quantified and visualized using GIS
software. Preliminary analysis shows a large amount of deer activity in the Huguenot Flat and Pony Pasture
sites, suggesting that there are canopy covered corridors being used by the deer to move into and out of those
areas of the park. The results of this study can be used by the JRPS to pinpoint wildlife corridors that can be
considered when determining specific conservation projects.
148. Primate Natal Coats: A Comparison
Lisa Day, Depts. of Anthropology and History, with Dr. Amy Rector Verrelli, Dept. of Anthropology
In some nonhuman primate species, young are born with natal coats, or fur that differs dramatically in color
from adult pelage. Usually, bright natal coats will change throughout ontogeny until the young reaches
adulthood. Some primatologists explain natal coat evolution as a mechanism to encourage parental care, by
the entire social group not just by the mother. Several species have infants who have a bright coloration at
birth, and these species are distributed across different habitats/phylogenetic groups.
In this paper and poster project I will compare natal coats across several taxa and discuss research on the
benefits of being highly visible to predators as a vulnerable young primate. Results suggest that natal coats
may serve a few purposes, for example deterring infanticide and ensuring adoption by another female if the
mother dies. Future research could provide more details on both of these topics and give more insight into the
evolutionary reasons for natal coat development.
The pressures of male infanticide and ecological constraints on ovulation and reproductive
strategies in female nonhuman primates
Christina McGrath, Dept. of Anthropology, Dr. Amy Rector Verrelli, Dept. of Anthropology
One of the costliest activities in a female nonhuman primate’s life is likely gestation and raising offspring.
Despite this cost to females, it is common for males of some primate species to commit infanticide to
stimulate a female into ovulation so that they themselves might reproduce with her. Because female primates
invest time, energy, and resources into their offspring, it is counterproductive for a female primate to lose an
offspring which they have already invested resources in. Rates of infanticide vary across ecological contexts
and phylogenetic groups, as does female response to infanticide risk.
In this project, we explore how female ovulation and reproductive strategies might have evolved to confuse
male paternity and lessen the chance of infanticide, and how ecological and phylogenetic constraints may
have influenced these female strategies. Results suggest that for female primates whose ovulation is
concealed, a strategy could be copulating during fertile periods, the non-ovulatory period, and gestation. For
female primates who advertise ovulation by having sexual swellings, there is a shorter amount of time for a
female to confuse paternity, and thus a different strategy might be employed. The variation in these strategies
also suggests that ecology plays a key role in how female nonhuman primates negate the risk of infanticide.
Analyzing the movement and evolution of simian and human immunodeficiency viruses in
Cercocebus atys, Pan troglodytes, and Homo sapiens
Mounika Abbareddy, Dept. of Biology, with Dr. Amy Rector-Verrelli, Dept. of Anthropology
The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) was not identified until the 1980s. In humans, there are two
major types of HIV, HIV-1 and HIV-2. In the late 1990s, researchers found a strain of simian
immunodeficiency virus (SIV) in chimpanzees that is similar to HIV-1 in humans. A strain of SIV in
mangabeys has also been found, this one quite similar to HIV-2. This research project aims to condense the
various research done on the strains of the virus in the different primates to come up with a theory for the
evolution and cross-species transmission of the virus. The habitat, behavior patterns, and types of
interactions of the primates was a major part of this process. These barriers are important in analyzing the
number of times and possible ways the virus may have been transmitted from one species to the other. Many
researchers believe that virus was originally transmitted from mangabeys to chimps when they killed and ate
the mangabeys in their territory. This same theory has also been applied to the transmission of the virus from
chimpanzees to humans. Research on the many different strains of SIV and their relation to HIV, however,
shows that this cross-species transmission cannot have been a single event. Phylogenetic mapping shows the
complexity of SIV and HIV and how HIV evolved many different times. Recently, theories have also been put
forth that the virus was transmitted through either the polio vaccine or the hepatitis B vaccine. These theories
have not been thoroughly researched, but may have given rise to one or more, though perhaps not all, of the
HIV strains today.
Monte Carlo simulation of Fluoroquinolone treatment for urinary tract infection caused by
Escherichia coli: Analysis of Canadian versus U.S isolates
Ahmed Noreddin, Dept. of Biology, with Dr. David Ombengi, VCU School of Pharmacy
This study aimed to assess the probability of Ciprofloxacin (Cipro) compared to Gatifloxacin (Gati) and
Levofloxacin (Levo) achieving favorable activity for bacterial eradication and prevention of resistance
development in E.coli. Cipro 500mg BID along with various doses of Gati and Levo were simulated, and target
attainment potential was estimated in hospitalized patients. Previously described and validated population
pharmacokinetic (PK) models of Cipro, Gati and Levo in hospitalized patients were utilized to simulate Cipro,
Gati and Levo PKs. Free-drug Area Under the Concentration (AUC 0-24) was simulated in Plasma (P) using
Cipro 500mg BID, Gati 200mg and 400mg OD as well as Levo 500mg, 750mg and 1000mg OD. E.coli
susceptibility data were obtained from the North American Urinary Tract Infection Surveillance Study
(NAUTICA). The NAUTICA study collected 2000 outpatient urinary isolates (1142 E.coli) from all geographic
regions in Canada and USA. Use of Monte Carlo Simulation allowed for the full variability of susceptibility
data and AUC 0-24 data for all patients. In hospitalized patients, Cipro 500mg BID, Gati 400mg OD and Levo
750mg OD showed high probability for target attainment of free AUC 0-24/MIC of 125 or 250 against E.coli.
Compared to Canada, U.S isolates showed lower probability of achieving a favorable outcome.
149. "To Tell the Truth I'm Terrified": The Concerns of Black Study Abroad Returnees and
Interests about Study Abroad
Alexis Briggs, Depts. of Psychology and African American Studies, with Dr. Faye Belgrave, Center for Cultural
Experiences in Prevention; Dept. of Psychology
The Concerns of Black Study Abroad Returnees and Interests about Study Abroad; According to the Institute
of International Education’s Open Doors report, out of the 27% of college students that study abroad, only
5.6% are Black students. This study looks to examine the fears and concerns of Black students regarding
study abroad. Survey data looks at Black students who are looking to study abroad as well as Black study
abroad returnees anticipated fears and concerns vs. actual fears and concerns about being and studying
abroad.
150. 3D Immersive Visualization of Biochemical Pathways
Bansri Rawal, VCU Honors College, Dept. of Computer Science with Dr. Dayanjan Wijesinghe, Department of
Pharmacotherapy and Outcomes Sciences, and Ali Panahi, Garret Westlake
Biochemical networks are extremely complex. As such their visualization and analysis as a whole is quite
difficult. A primary reason for this difficulty is data sets to produce densely populated, complicated graphs,
where it becomes extremely difficult to discern a pattern, structure, or understand relationships within the
individual components of the network. Although many softwares, such as Cytoscape, have made great
advances to help analyze such data, they are limited by the technological constraints of having to visualize
dense networks in a two-dimensional (2D) environment. Such 2D platforms prevent researchers from properly
visualizing the data by limiting them to simple “click and drag” types of interactions. This prevents users from
achieving a more natural and organic approach to visualizing and interacting with networked data. In the age
of virtual and augmented reality, it is advantageous and crucial for data scientists to have the ability to
engage with biochemical networks naturally, follow the types of relationships between the nodes visually, and
receive a simplified, but comprehensive perspective of those networks. To overcome the challenges and
limitation of existing 2D technology, we are developing a 3D immersive augmented reality software platform
based on the Microsoft Hololens architecture to better visualize, analyze, map, comprehend, and engage with
biochemical pathways. This software platform has further utility in that it can be used to investigate any
network related information in an immersive environment. Possible applications include the investigation of
drug interaction networks, gene expression networks, and protein expression networks. The platform also has
the capability to embed informative metadata that can be used as needed, thereby increasing the information
density while keeping the overall visual interface simple and uncluttered. From a non-biological standpoint,
this software platform has the capacity to investigate any type of highly networked information. In summary,
this software framework will enable the immersive visualization of networked data in a manner that was never
before possible and has the capacity to speed up biomedical research via increasing speed of data driven
hypotheses generation and testing.
151. An exploration of epidemiological transition and causes of mortality among African
Americans buried in the East End Cemetery, Richmond VA (1910-1990).
Abir Malik, Dept. of Sociology, with Dr. Susan Bodnar-Deren, PhD, Dept. of Sociology
Background: Epidemiological Transition is the shift in a society from mortality caused by infectious and
parasitic disease and low life expectancy to one characterized by degenerative and chronic disease and high
life expectancy, due to changing social conditions (Omran, 1971). The U.S. transitioned occurred over the
course of the 20th Century (Wilkinson, 1998), however due to structural inequalities, not all subgroups of the
U.S. population transitioned at the same time (Williams, 2003). De Jure and De Facto segregation has
perpetuated social inequality and stratification (Bonilla-Silva, 2009) and is especially apparent in Richmond,
where even burial grounds were segregated by race until the end of the 20th Century.
Study Objective: To see if and when epidemiological transition occurred among a sample of African Americans
in Richmond VA. Methods: Using primary data obtained from the East End Cemetery in Richmond VA, we
recorded age at death for a sample of African Americans during the course of the 20 th Century. We then linked
the data obtained from the headstones with publically available death certificates, which contained cause of
death. Focusing on mortality caused by cancer and cardiovascular disease, we compared this with similar
mortality trends for the full U.S population during the period to see when African Americans, living in
Richmond characterized this transition. We additionally examined causes of death among the sample by age
and gender. Results: Similar to overall U.S. trends, we found that mortality caused by chronic illness was
greater than by acute for most age subgroups, with the exception of those ages 19-34. We also found that
among African Americans there were no gender differences in death caused by CVD in the middle of the
century (1950-1970); however women were more likely to die from cancer than were men during the period.
For the latter part of the 20th C., among African Americans in our sample, women had higher mortality from
both CVD and cancer than did men. We found that death by cancer and CVD was lower for African Americans
in our sample during this period than it was for the total U.S. population, suggesting that African Americans
in Richmond VA epidemiologically transitioned at a later period than did white Americans.
152. Formulation of enteric pH-responsive nanoparticles for a model of drug delivery
Raven Smith, Dept. of Chemical and Life Science Engineering, with Dr. Christina Tang, Dept. of Chemical and
Life Science Engineering
Oral delivery is the most convenient for drug administration. pH responsive nanoparticles that
facilitate specific intestinal release of oral dosages and prevent stomach irritation. We aim to develop pHsensitive platform that remains intact at low pH (acidic environment) and dissolves at higher pH (~neutral).
Nanoparticles were formulated from tannic acid, chitosan, and PEG-based stabilizer using Flash
NanoPrecipitation (FNP). In FNP, tannic acid and PEG-based stabilizer were dissolved in acetone and rapidly
mixing with aqueous chitosan using a confined impinging jet mixer. The tannic acid and chitosan are
encapsulated due to a combination of hydrogen bonding and hydrophobic interactions with the stabilizer.
Nanoparticle size and stability were evaluated using dynamic light scattering. The size of the nanoparticles
can be tuned between 150 nm and 980 nm by varying the total solids concentration or the weight ratio of the
block copolymer (PSbPEG) to the core materials (TA and chitosan). Nanoparticles formulated with a 1:1 mass
ratio of stabilizer to core were stable with no appreciable changes in size for at least 1 week in a DI water
reservoir. Ratios above 1:1 produced non-uniform nanoparticles with polydispersity indices above 0.6 and
rapid, unpredictable changes in size. Nanoparticle solutions of total solids concentration below 4 mg/ml
demonstrated high stability and changed very little in size or monodispersity over at least 1 week. The
stability of the nanoparticles as a function of pH are currently under investigation.
153. Effects of prescribed fire on aquatic macroinvertebrate community assembly across
terrestrial and aquatic scales
Shanece Green1, Dominique Jean1, Logan McDonald2, Dr. James Vonesh3
1. B.S. Biology, 2. Department of Biology Graduate Mentor, 3. Department of Biology Faculty Mentor
Abundance and diversity of organisms with complex life cycles may vary in response to disturbances. Fire is
a disturbance that can alter both the terrestrial habitat and the embedded aquatic habitat that aquatic
macroinvertebrates occupy. Studies exploring post-fire invertebrate communities have focused on either the
terrestrial or the aquatic habitat, but have not determined if patterns of abundance and diversity are a result
of changes to the terrestrial or aquatic habitat, or both. We examined aquatic macroinvertebrate community
assembly by nesting mesocosms with burned and unburned leaf litter into replicate burned and unburned
landscapes. We sampled aquatic macroinvertebrates from our aquatic mesocosms, after allowing communities
to assemble, to determine diversity and abundance. Our preliminary results suggest that abundance and
diversity may vary across burned and unburned treatments. Patterns of diversity and abundance in aquatic
macroinvertebrate communities may also impact food web dynamics and have cascading effects.
Understanding the role of fire on terrestrial and aquatic conditions will be critical in effectively managing for
invertebrate communities and associated species.
154. Effects of Military Branch Membership on Risk Taking Propensity and Alcohol Use
Brianna Georgea, Sage Hawn, M.S.a,b; Ruth C. Brown, Ph.D.b; Erin Berenz, Ph.D.c; Scott McDonald, Ph.D.d;
Treven Pickett, Psy.D.b,d; Carla Kmett Danielson, Ph.D.e; Suzanne Thomas, Ph.D.e; Ananda B. Amstadter, Ph.D.b
aDepartment
bDepartment
of Psychology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
of Psychiatry, Virginia Institute of Psychiatric and Behavioral Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth
University, Richmond, VA, USA
cDepartment
dHunter
of Pediatrics, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
Holmes McGuire VAMC, Richmond, VA, USA
eDepartment
of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA
Combat exposure has been identified as a risk factor for problematic alcohol use (e.g., at-risk drinking, binge
drinking) and increased risk-taking propensity (RTP) among military personnel. Rates of combat exposure
have been show to vary across different branches in the military (e.g., Army, Navy, etc.). Problematic alcohol
use and increased RTP are both associated with negative mental health outcomes (e.g., PTSD), warranting
increased understanding of these outcomes within military culture. There is a paucity of research examining
potential differences in combat-related mental health outcomes between military branches. This study sought
to fill this gap in the literature by investigating whether problematic alcohol use and RTP differed according to
military branch membership in a sample of 352 young veterans (M age=30.33, SD=4.55). Three Analyses of
Covariance (ANCOVAs) tests were conducted in order to investigate differences between branches on RTP,
binge drinking and average number of drinks per week while statistically controlling for significantly
associated demographic variables (i.e., age, marital status). RTP (F(5, 311) = .626, p = .680, partial η 2 = .010),
binge drinking (F(5, 344) = .1.017, p = .407, partial η 2 = .015), and average number of drinks per week (F(5,
344) = .627, p = .679, partial η2 = .009) did not significantly differ according to military branch. Similarly,
PTSD symptom severity did not vary according to military branch membership (F(5, 296) = .672, p = .645,
partial η2 = .011). Variables that have otherwise been shown to be associated with combat exposure (i.e.,
RTP, alcohol use, PTSD) did not differ according to branch membership in the present sample. A notable
limitation of this study is the exclusion of participants who meet diagnostic criteria for alcohol use disorder,
therefore excluding individuals with more severe alcohol use. Potential clinical implications from these
findings suggest that, despite differences in combat exposure between branches, availability of postdeployment resources may be consistent. Further investigation is needed to look into military veterans who
suffer from alcohol use disorder in order to refine post-deployment care and resources.
155.
Understanding the Effects of HIV and Drugs of Abuse on the Blood-Brain Barrier
Gopika Hari, VCU Honors College, Dept. of Biology, with Dr. Mary Peach McRae, Dept. of Pharmacotherapy and
Outcomes Sciences
Despite effective systemic therapy, HIV-1 infection within the brain results in neuronal degradation and
neurocognitive dysfunction. This neurocognitive dysfunction is worsened in the setting of opiate abuse. The
central nervous system (CNS) is protected by the blood-brain barrier (BBB), a selective barrier regulating the
passage of substances from peripheral circulation into the CNS. The BBB is composed of microvascular
endothelial cells encased by basal lamina, pericytes, and perivascular astrocyte endfeet. Intracellular
junctional complexes comprising of adherens and tight junctions are located between the endothelial cells and
form tight barrier, preventing traffic of compounds between cells (paracellular flux). Clinical and in vitro data
suggest that BBB integrity is compromised in HIV infection, which leads to a leaky barrier. Brain
microvascular endothelial cells also express efflux transporters that are responsible for the extrusion of
substances from the brain back into the blood. P-glycoprotein is a drug efflux transporter involved in the
efflux of many antiretroviral drugs and overexpression of P-glycoprotein can limit therapeutic concentrations
of substrate drugs within the brain. Additionally, P-glycoprotein expression and/or function may be altered
in the setting of HIV infection and in the setting of drug abuse. In order to study the impact of morphine, a
commonly used opiate drug of abuse, on drug-efflux proteins at the BBB, we measured the effects of
morphine and the HIV-1 protein Tat on P-glycoprotein expression and function. hCMEC/D3 cells, which are
human derived brain microvascular endothelial cells, were pre-treated for 24 hours with Tat (100nM),
morphine (500nM), or Tat (100nM) + morphine (500nM). P-glycoprotein function was evaluated by measuring
intracellular accumulation of the prototypical P-glycoprotein substrate, rhodamine-123. Compared to control,
statistically significant increases in cellular accumulation of rhodamine-123 were observed in both the
morphine (mean±SEM; 118±6.5%, p<0.05) and Tat+morphine (118 ±13.1%, p<0.05) groups, suggesting
decreased efflux activity of P-glycoprotein. Protein expression of P-glycoprotein was measured using western
blot analysis. Significant decreases in P-glycoprotein expression was observed in all treatment groups as
compared to control; Tat (63±4.2%, p< 0.05), morphine (64±13.5%, p<0.05) and Tat+morphine (69±15.6%,
p<0.05). Understanding the factors that influence efflux transporter function and expression in the BBB are
crucial in optimizing antiretroviral penetration into the brain, even in the setting of drug abuse.
156.
Emotion regulatory deficits associated with depression and anxiety symptoms
Emily Murphy, Dept. of Psychology, with Dr. Ananda B. Amstadter and Dr. Lance M Rappaport, Dept. of Psychiatry
While considerable research has documented the role of emotional dysregulation in psychopathology, there is
a need to examine the clinical importance of specific deficits in the emotion regulatory process. The present
study looked at whether specific emotion regulation deficits, assessed at baseline by the Difficulties in
Emotion Regulation Scale, predicted symptoms of depression, on the PHQ-9 (M = 6.47, SD = 5.83), or
generalized anxiety, on the GAD-7 (M = 12.03, SD = 6.11), among undergraduate students (N = 148; 73%
female; Mage = 18.96, SDage = 1.73) 2 weeks later. Data analysis used structural equation modeling to examine
the association of specific emotion regulatory deficits with symptoms of both depression and anxiety while
accounting for the well-known correlation between the two internalizing disorders. Results indicated that the
STRATEGIES scale, which describes limited access to emotion regulation strategies, predicted elevated
symptoms of both depression,  = 0.43, p < 0.001, 95%CI [0.19, 0.68], and generalized anxiety,  = 0.31, p >
0.001, 95%CI [0.03, 0.59], whereas the NONACCEPTANCE scale, which describes an individual’s nonacceptance to emotional responses, also predicted elevated generalized anxiety symptoms,  = 0.19, p = 0.039,
95%CI [0.002, 0.37]. Symptoms of anxiety and depression were correlated, as expected, r = 0.65, 95%CI [0.53,
0.76]. Similarly, using an additional measure of symptoms of depression (M = 3.66, SD = 4.91), anxiety (M =
2.68, SD = 3.77), and stress (M = 4.58, SD = 4.96) on the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scales produced
similar results. The STRATEGIES scale predicted elevated depression symptoms,  = 0.50, p < 0.001, 95%CI
[0.26, 0.76], and results specify that the STRATEGIES scale predicted symptoms of anxiety,  = 0.31, p =
0.027, 95%CI [0.04, 0.60], whereas the NONACCEPTANCE scale predicted somatic symptoms of stress,  =
0.24, p = 0.022, 95%CI [0.04, 0.44]. Symptoms of depression were correlated with both symptoms of anxiety,
r = 0.84, 95%CI [0.76, 0.90], and stress, r = 0.76, 95%CI [0.64, 0.83]. Results regarding additional scales
representing other deficits in emotion regulation will be discussed. Results clarify the nature of the
association of emotion regulation deficits with depression and anxiety symptoms among college students.
Specifically, participants who reported limited access to emotion regulation strategies were at increased risk
for depression symptoms and anxiety symptoms whereas participants who reported low acceptance of
emotional responses were at increased risk for somatic, stress-related symptoms.
157.
Porcupines and China Dolls: Exposing Trauma through Narrative Voice
Imari Santiago and Savannah Parker, with Cristina Stanciu, Dept. of English
This research endeavor is a literary analysis of a vital novel about the trauma of the residential school
experience in Canada, Porcupines and China Dolls (2002). Written by Canadian First Nations novelist Robert
Arthur Alexie, this novel is a raw, healing narrative that focuses on the reality of the residential school
experience in Canada and the move toward reconciliation.
The residential school system in Canada originated in the 1870s. The Canadian government paired up with
various churches (Anglican, Catholic, and other predominant religions) to assimilate Aboriginal people into
Canadian society. If the families of the children failed to give their children to these residential schools,
punishment and imprisonment were the consequences. Over a century there were over one hundred and
thirty residential schools in Canada and the last one closed in 1996. Alexie begins his novel by writing about
this oppressive form of education in Canadian residential schools. He writes about First Nations children who
experienced traumatic incidents such as having their hair cut, being forced to wear uniforms, and forgetting
their native language. These children are the novel’s “porcupines and china dolls.” These children return in
the later parts of his novel as adults and Alexie writes how they are continuously dealing with the hardships
of their past due to the residential school system.
The novel is autobiographical as Alexie was a survivor of a residential school and resided in the North Western
Territory part of Canada, where the people of Teetl'it Gwich'in still live. The author writes in a powerful way
throughout the novel that connects itself like a web that has a destructive spider in it, which is the
government’s residential school system. The impact of this narrative comes from the significantly distressing
realities of the experiences of residential boarding schools for indigenous populations, specifically those of the
Canadian First Nations communities. Alexie takes his personal experience and creates a powerful narrative
with the raw emotion of the real history.
By examining Alexie’s use of narrative strategies to recreate that traumatic and violent history, we have found
through research that voice and verbal tense create a new method for expression of an emotionally-intense
topic. The voice of the narration presents an unreliability that emphasizes the trauma and the dichotomy
between personal narratives and the broader ramifications/development of historical trauma. In this project,
we will strive to shed light on Alexie’s writing as he displays the scars of the residential school experience over
a century. The scholarship on this topic is limited, so further research and analysis is vital for advancing the
knowledge. We break down the novel into the three parts and analyze the interconnection of narrative voice
and verbal tense as their significance to understanding Porcupines and China Dolls.
158.
What Makes an Electron a Valence Electron?
Ashlyn Van Norman, VCU Honors College, Dept. of Chemistry with Dr. Sally Hunnicutt, Dept. of Chemistry
In this experiment, the Guided Inquiry learning method was used to develop a concrete working definition of
valence and core electrons, by analyzing energy trends and geometry. The software, WebMO, was used to
determine the total electronic energy and atomic orbital energies by using the Hartree-Fock model. To study
how the interactions between electrons of individual atoms lead to the formation of a diatomic molecule,
geometry optimization was performed by analyzing the total energy of Li2 of bond lengths between 0.5 and 50
angstrom. The remaining homonuclear diatomic molecules were optimized using WebMO. Finally, the student
reflected on the effectiveness of the Guided Inquiry learning method in aiding understanding of the material.
159.
The Association of Mothers' Experiences of Perceived Discrimination and Daily Stress
Raven Ross, Dept. of Psychology, with Dr. Fantasy Lozada, Developmental Psychology
Previous research has shown that people who experience age discrimination have higher levels of
psychological distress than people who reported no discrimination (Marshall & Vogt Yuan, 2007). Another
study found that experiencing lifetime gender and racial discrimination is predictive for experiencing other
types of stressors (Perry, Harp, & Oser, 2013). In addition, previous research examined the effect of
experiencing weight discrimination on cortisol levels which found that people who believed they faced weight
discrimination had significantly higher levels of cortisol over a two month period compared to people who felt
they did not experience weight discrimination (Jackson, Kirschbaum, & Steptoe, 2016). The results from
these various studies show that the experience of discrimination has an effect on the experience of stress, yet
many studies usually focus on one aspect of discrimination, the most common type assessed being racial
discrimination. However, the present study incorporated various types of discrimination in its measures of
perceived discrimination (e.g., racial, gender, age, and physical discrimination) and its association with
experiences of daily stress.
Participants were drawn from the longitudinal Durham Child Health and Development Study (DCHDS) during
the children’s third grade year. Participants included 117 African American children, 82 European American
children, and 4 biracial children. Mother participants included 117 African Americans and 82 European
Americans.
Mothers completed the Daily Inventory of Stressful Events (DISE) (Almeida, Wethington, & Kessler, 2002) and
the Perceived Discrimination Questionnaire on a laptop computer in the lab. The DISE assesses how many
stressful events a person experiences in a day and included questions about stressors such as arguments
with another person or workplace stress. The Perceived Discrimination Questionnaire is adapted from the
Everyday Discrimination (ED) questionnaire (Williams, Yan, & Jackson, 1997), and the Daily Life Experiences
of Racism (DLER) questionnaire (Harrell, Merchant, & Young, 1997). The Perceived Discrimination
questionnaire asked mothers how often they encountered discrimination, why they believed they experienced
discrimination, and how much it bothered them.
Correlations were conducted in order to determine if there were any significant associations of mothers’ daily
stress and perceived discrimination. The results showed a positive association of daily stress and perceived
age discrimination that was statistically significant (r=.16, p<.05). The associations of daily stress and
mothers’ perceived racial, gender, and physical characteristics discrimination were not statistically
significant.
The results of this study suggest that the experience of age discrimination leads to an increase in stress in the
daily lives of mothers. The lack of statistical significance in the associations of race, physical, and gender
discrimination and the experience of stress is in contrast to previous findings. It is possible that there was no
relationship between race, physical, and gender discrimination and the experience of stress among our
sample of mothers because they felt that these experiences of discrimination were not as impactful as age
discrimination. In addition, since various type of discrimination were examined in this study, it is possible
that previous research on discrimination yielded different results because it examined each type of
discrimination individually. This would’ve allowed for a more focused and in depth study of the mothers’
experiences of stress related to their experiences of discrimination.
The impact of socioeconomic status and socio-cognitive abilities on prosocial behavior
Justin Lucas, Sierra Williams, Dept. of Psychology, with Dr. Fantasy Lozada, Dept. of Psychology
Prosocial behaviors are classified into several subcategories; helping, sharing and, comforting (Dunfield, 2014).
In the current study prosocial behavior shall be defined as helping, sharing, and comforting behaviors that
are intended to help/benefit another (Eisenberg & Mussen, 1989). Researchers have identified several
contributors to prosocial behavior such as socialization, individual differences, and cognitive development
(Dunfield, 2014). The cognitive or socio-cognitive model suggests that children develop particular prosocial
skills due to individual socio-cognitive abilities and previous studies have demonstrated that socio-cognitive
skills are related to children’s prosocial behaviors with peers (Kärtner, Schuhmacher, & Collard, 2014). On
the other hand, socio-cognitive deficits may impede children’s prosocial behaviors (Kärtner et al., 2014).
Additionally, children’s lived (i.e., socialization) experiences may also contribute to children’s prosocial
behaviors (Dunfield, 2014). Current studies suggest that there is a difference in the prosocial behaviors of
higher SES adults than lower SES adults (Piff, Kraus, Côté, Cheng, & Keltner, 2010). Therefore, parents of
lower and higher SES may pass their prosocial tendencies to their children, impacting children’s prosocial
development through their socio-cognitive abilities. This study explores how children’s socio-cognitive abilities
and deficits relate to children’s prosocial behavior in 3rd grade and whether these relations differ by the SES
status of a child’s family. We hypothesized that there will be a stronger relationship between children’s sociocognitive abilities and their prosocial behaviors for children from lower SES families than children of higher
SES families. Children’s 3rd grade teachers completed the Social Cognitive Skills Rating Scale – Teacher
Version (SCSRS-P; Kupersmidt, Stelter, & Parker, in press) to report on children’s socio-cognitive strengths
and deficits and the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ; Goodman, 1997) to report on children’s
prosocial behaviors. SES was determined from the demographic information provided by the participants.
Separate correlation analyses were conducted to examine associations among teacher reported prosocial
behavior and social cognitive strengths and deficits for low SES and high SES children. Correlation analyses
revealed similar associations for low SES and high SES children. Prosocial behavior was positively related to
children’s social strengths to both low SES (r=.76, p<.01) and high SES (r=.648, p<.01) children. Additionally,
prosocial behavior was negatively related to children’s social deficits for both low SES (r= -.468, p<.01) and
high SES (r= -.326, p<.01) children. Fishers’ r-to-z transformations revealed low SES and high SES children
did not significantly differ in their associations among teacher reported prosocial behavior and social cognitive
strengths and deficits. These results reflect previous studies in that socio-cognitive abilities are a strong
indicator of prosocial aptitude. Socio-cognitive deficits and prosocial behavior being negatively related may
indicate a lack of necessary understanding of the self and other-oriented thinking and how to most effectively
apply this thought process. Additional research is needed to understand the means by which prosocial
behavior is developed throughout the lifespan. The more that we are made aware of what impacts the
developmental patterns of prosocial behavior, the more prepared we will be to facilitate the healthy
development of these behaviors in our homes and school systems.
160. The Strong Black Woman: Stress and social support in African-American women
participating in a community based health intervention
Camille Brenke, VCU Honors College, VCU School of Nursing, with Dr. Candace Johnson, VCU School of Nursing
African American (AA) women have been identified as a high-risk population for Metabolic Syndrome (MetS), a
complex cluster of cardiovascular risk factors includes obesity, glucose intolerance, dyslipidemia and
hypertension. Many AAs with MetS suggest integrating stress management content and social support
elements when trying to assist them in making lifestyle changes. The goal of this study is to identify and test
culturally informed lifestyle interventions with AA women who are at high risk for MetS.
Methods 28 women were enrolled in the study and 22 women completed the study as structured. It was a 6week, Yoga-based video intervention (YogicDance) using activity trackers and other internet-based technology
to increase healthy behaviors and lower risk for MetS in at risk AA women between ages 35 and 50 years.
MetS profile measures (blood pressure, glucose, waist circumference and blood lipids) were drawn at baseline
and post intervention. Three focus groups (total N=19) were used to assess and provide context for feasibility
measures of the intervention and to explore barriers and benefits to participating in YogicDance (YD).
Results Themes that emerged from this exploratory research include the idea that social support would
enhance participation in the YD program. Stress reduction and stress management were seen as motivating
factors in engaging in and increasing YD activity. The participants of this study completed three evaluation
surveys to quantify stress levels. These include the Perceived stress scale, the African American Women’s
stressor scale, and the Strong Black Woman Scale. In addition to these, participants were invited to focus
groups that investigated other stressors or barriers that may have been present throughout the study. It was
found that as the participants became more engaged in their health management via the YD activity, they lost
social support.
Conclusion When stress is sustained for extended periods, cognitive resources are depleted leading to
psychological distress, depressive symptomology and cardiovascular disease. Health promotion interventions
with AA women at risk for MetS should address ‘top-down’ approaches to enhance cardio-protective cognitive
resources such as social support and meaning and purpose in life. The work done in this study will lay the
foundation for translating population-specific self-management of physical activity and stress in high risk
groups and will assist in determining the effect sizes necessary to appropriately power and test this
intervention as well as methodologies that will be feasible and acceptable in a full-scale randomized controlled
trial.
161.
Facebook Study
Pavsee Gajjar, Calvin Hall, Deidre Miller, Alan Hart, Department of Psychology, with Dr. Jennifer Joy-Gaba,
Dept. of Psychology
The importance of being egalitarian in business is evident (King, Dawson, Kravitz, Gulick, 2012). Despite this
equal opportunity mindset, discrimination is still observed in the workplace with employers changing the
judgment criteria to be in-line with the applicant they find appealing (Uhlmann & Cohen, 2005). Moreover,
employers only look at a resume for approximately six seconds before attempting to searching for the person
on social media sites (Riggins, 2012). The purpose of the current research was to examine the influence that
race of the applicant and social media presence had on decisions to hire men (Study 1) or women (Study 2).
Based on previous research, we hypothesized that participants would be more likely to hire a White applicant
compared to a Black applicant (Bertrand & Mullainathan, 2004; Uhlmann & Cohen, 2005). We also
hypothesized that this preference would be stronger when the applicant had a negative social media presence.
Participants read a scenario and were shown photos of applicants in a neutral or party pose. Results showed
that, surprisingly, race had no effect on hiring decisions. However, the type of pose the applicant presented to
social media did, with neutral poses being more desirable.
162.
Mindfulness Dampens Emotion Sharing to Promote Empathy in Interracial Contexts
Antoine Calfat, Courtney Fields, Jordan Schramm, R. Matthew Lee, Jazmin Anderson, Daniel Bustamante,
Lauren Curran, Justin D. Tubbs, Kirk W. Brown, Daniel R. Berry, Dept. of Psychology
Although a great motivator of prosocial action, empathy is often lacking where we most need it – in interracial
contexts (Cikara et al., 2011). Perceived differences between the self and other, as instilled by racial
categorization, leads to an attenuation in emotion sharing. Research has shown that psychological traits such
as empathy and mindfulness reduce the perceived psychological distance between oneself and others, while
those like racism increase it (Berry & Brown, 2017). More importantly mindfulness can be trained (Baer et al.,
2003). In the current study, we investigated whether (trait and trained) mindfulness would increase
interracial empathy by increasing emotion sharing. White female undergraduates (N=79) were shown videos
depicting sad ingroup and outgroup (defined by race) actresses. During these tasks, 64-channel EEG was
recorded, and self-report measures of empathic concern for the actresses in the videos were taken. After the
task participants completed psychological trait measures, and were randomized to either a 4-day mindfulness
training (MT), or sham mindfulness (ST) training. Participants returned to the lab these complete these
measures again after training. Participants showed less emotion sharing for racial outgroup members, relative
to racial ingroup members (p <.05). Opposite of what was predicted, trait mindfulness was associated with
lower emotion sharing (p <.05), and MT decreased emotion sharing toward both ingroup and outgroup
members (p < .05). While these aforementioned results were unexpected, MT did increase empathic concern
during interracial video observation. This indicates that mindfulness training increases interracial empathy,
but why it does so requires some re-thinking.
163.
Intersectional evils: Experiences of discrimination within the Black LGBTQ population
Zhara France, Depts. of African American Studies and Gender, Sexuality and Women’s Studies with Dr. Vivian
Dzokoto, Dept. of African American Studies
People within the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) community face remarkably high
levels of discrimination on a daily basis, and African Americans who identify as LGBTQ are disproportionately
affected by this type of hatred. This study examines the intersection of race and sexuality or gender to obtain
the perspective of these character’s experiences with discrimination. The research is a content analysis of 10
films with main characters that identify as both Black and LGBTQ. Three of the movies are documentaries,
and seven are dramas. The films were chosen because they show personal accounts of Black LGBTQ people
that have a challenging time completing daily activities without hatred due to their intersectionality.
The types of discrimination that were presented in the movies were physical violence, verbal abuse,
social exclusion, emotional trauma, and sexual harassment. Some examples of these are refusal to give care
in a doctor’s office, being fired in the workplace, or being excluded from religious activities. The adversity
faced by these characters has a negative impact on their quality of life, which keeps them from achieving their
goals. Although some of the movies are fictional, they are still a direct representation of the obstacles that
these people have to constantly overcome in order to survive. With the results of this study and other
research supporting this concept, there should be more action taken to establish an improved quality of life
for Black LGBTQ people.
164.
Cannabis use and romantic relationships in the Spit for Science sample
Jessica Kinney, VCU Honors College, Dept. of Psychology, with Dr. Amy Adkins, Dept. of Psychology
Previous research has shown that exclusivity in relationships can serve as a protective factor against the
development of substance use problems in older adults. Although substance use is prevalent on college
campuses, little is known about the association between substance use and romantic relationships in college
students. Spit for Science is a VCU-wide research project looking at protective and risk factors for behavioral
health and substance use. Previous analyses of relationship status and one substance (alcohol) in the Spit for
Science sample indicated that participants who dated multiple partners were at an increased risk for elevated
alcohol consumption and related problems compared to those who were single or in an exclusive relationship
with one partner (Salvatore et al., 2015). We are interested in overall patterns of cannabis use in the Spit for
Science sample and whether there is a similar pattern between cannabis use and romantic relationship
status. We hypothesize that students who have reported they are in an exclusive relationship or who are
single will have lower rates of cannabis use compared to those who are dating multiple people. Spit for
Science cohorts 1-4 (overall N=9889, 61.5% female) were asked each spring of their college career about
cannabis use in the past 12 months. Romantic relationship status in spring of the first year of college was
also queried. The answer choices included not dating, dating several people, dating one person exclusively,
engaged, married, married but separated, and I choose not to answer. Participants who skipped the question,
answered married but separated, or elected not to answer were recoded to missing and the remaining
collapsed into three categories: single (54.7%), in an exclusive relationship (39.5%), and dating several people
(5.8%). In on-going analyses, we will investigate the rates of cannabis use as a function of relationship status.
This research can be used to help identify collegiate populations at risk for substance abuse and thus inform
prevention and intervention programming.
165.
A Closer Look at Students in Recovery in the Spit for Science Sample
Yusrah Hasan, VCU Honors College and Jacqueline Roth, Depts. of Biology and HPEX, with Dr. Amy Adkins, Dept.
of Psychology
Objective: Colleges often provide environments tolerant of heavy substance use, resulting in more bingedrinking and a higher risk for substance abuse among college-aged individuals. To combat the dangers of
substance abuse, many colleges and universities have established collegiate recovery programs. The purpose
of this study was to examine how individuals in recovery compare to the VCU student body in terms of mental
health, substance use, academics and background characteristics.
Methods: Using the fall, freshman wave of Spit for Science Sample across all cohorts (2011- 2014, N = 7,958),
we divided students into four categories: non-initiators, drinkers, those with an AUD diagnosis and those who
self-identified as in recovery. One Way ANOVAs were used to compare mean differences among the four
groups in the categories of Mental Health, Substance Use, Pre-VCU experiences, and other outcomes.
Results: Students with AUD (Alcohol Use Disorder) symptoms and those in recovery have higher levels of
anxiety, depression, SLE (stressful life events), ASB (antisocial behavior) and lower GPAs. Drinkers and those
in recovery reported the same alcohol usage. Additionally, those with AUD symptoms drink more than
students in recovery.
Conclusions: Students in recovery show similar symptoms to those meet criteria for an AUD. Students in
Recovery face emotional and behavioral challenges even before arriving to VCU, demonstrating a need for
support services.
166.
Respirable particles in desktop 3D printer workshops
John Cuddehe, Dept. of Chemistry, with Dr. Nastassja Lewinski, Dept. of Chemical and Life Science Engineering
Since the advent of desktop 3D printers and their subsequent rise in popularity, workshop style
spaces have opened up to provide broader access to these devices. While exposure concerns revolving around
3D printers are being explored, most emission studies are performed using controlled exposure chambers,
which less accurately represent a real world situation. To explore the exposure concerns of workshop
environments, we measured particle emissions generated from three commercially available 3D printers
located in The Workshop of Cabell library. A scanning mobility particle sizer, optical particle sizer,
transmission electron microscope, and gravimetric analysis were used to determine the physical
characteristics of the particles emitted. The influence of filament type was examined by printing with
polylactic acid (PLA), acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), and high impact polystyrene (HIPS). It was found
that the emitted particle sizes ranged between 11 nm - 300 nm. Particle concentrations varied between 2,000
particles per cm3 to 14,000 particles per cm3 depending on the 3D printer in operation. When all three 3D
printers were in use, particle concentrations exceeding 20,000 particles per cm 3 were measured. Future work
will examine the effectiveness of strategies to reduce particle emissions (e.g. enclosures, local ventilation).
167. The Use of Bacterial Community Succession Associated with Oral Region of Porcine
Remains for Postmortem Interval (PMI) Estimation
Daniel Malyn, Dept. of Forensic Science, with Dr. Baneshwar Singh, Dept. Forensic Science
Currently, deaths that occur unobserved do not have an accurate method of determining long-term
postmortem interval (PMI). Though this has been a focus of the forensic community, methods for long-term
PMI have not proven to be precise. In this study, 16S rDNA MiSeq® sequencing (V3-V4 region) was performed
on bacterial samples collected from the buccal region of porcine remains. Data suggests that proteobacteria is
present at high levels during the early stages of decomposition and over time, the abundance of
proteobacteria decreases and firmicutes becomes more prevalent. While still observed at high levels,
firmicutes abundance decreases while actinobacteria abundance increases over time. Analysis of the data
obtained from this study will help with the development of a model for prediction of long-term PMI.
168.
The Attenuation of High-Energy Photons using Carbon Nanotubes in an Epoxy Matrix
Aaron Lam and Nicholus Radcliffe, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering; Nuclear Concentration with Dr. Jessika V.
Rojas Marin, Dept. of Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering
High energy photons in the form of X-rays and gamma rays have a wide range of applications. As
such, they are encountered in many industries, including medical, power production, and aerospace. Thus,
the use of shielding is required to prevent damage from these high energy photons and other ionizing
radiation to equipment and personnel. Currently, industries employ the use of heavy shielding materials,
such as lead and concrete. However, as the use of high energy photons becomes more common, the need for
new, lighter, and more versatile shielding materials is increasing. Recent studies have indicated that
nanocomposites possess unique qualities with the potential to fill this need. The purpose of the research
reported herein is to examine and quantify the unique shielding characteristics of a carbon nanotubepolymer(CNT-p) nanocomposite to evaluate its viability as a shielding material.
The current theoretical model used in the quantification of radiation shielding is given by the BeerLambert Law. This law states that, for a given photon energy, the intensity of a penetrating beam of photons
will decrease exponentially with increasing sample thickness. The relationship between the shielded and
unshielded beam intensity is dependent upon a material property called the attenuation coefficient, a
correction factor called the buildup factor, and the thickness of the shielding material. The attenuation
coefficient is a material property that is expected to be independent of the geometry of the shielding material.
The buildup factor adjusts the penetrating beam intensity through the incorporation of secondary radiation
and photons that have been scattered in the shielding material. Recent literature has reported that the
observed attenuation coefficient of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCTs) decreased with increasing
thickness. Confirmation of this claim would imply the existence of processes by which high-energy photons
interact with MWCNTs which are not currently included in the theoretical model.
In this work the attenuation coefficient of CNT-polymer nanocomposites was measured and its
dependence on sample material thickness was evaluated. Samples of an epoxy matrix and MWCNT filler were
prepared with the weight percent of the filler varying from 0 – 2.5% in 0.5% increments. The samples were
subjected to preliminary tests using 662 keV photons from a cesium-137 source in a broad beam
configuration. The results of these tests indicated that there was a relation between the attenuation coefficient
and sample thickness. Although, the current theoretical model allows for such a relation in the case of broad
beam geometry via the buildup factor, the observed effect was more pronounced than expected. To preclude
the contribution of a buildup factor in further testing, a collimator was constructed for use with a high-purity
germanium (HPGe) detector. The collimator was designed to prevent any scattered photons from reaching the
detector. And, use of the HPGe detector allowed for the discrimination of specific photon energies. Currently,
the HPGe is being used in conjunction with the beam collimator to measure the intensity of a beam of 662
keV photons for varying thicknesses of the nanocomposite samples. According to the current theoretical
framework, this should result in a constant attenuation coefficient. However, based on recent literature it is
expected that there will be an observable decrease in the attenuation coefficient with increasing sample
thickness. This effect is also expected to become more pronounced as the weight percent of MWCNTs is
increased.
169.
The Influence of Social Hierarchies on Rates of Inbreeding in Primates
Courtney Fields, Depts. of Psychology and Anthropology with Dr. Amy Rector-Verrelli. Dept. of Anthropology
Non-human primate social structures vary across species and ecological contexts. We are interested in nonhuman primate inbreeding because of what it may mean for primate cognition. The mechanisms which are
used to not only determine which primates are too closely related but also to then decide the best way to
avoid or not avoid relations amongst relatives can potentially reveal high cognition amongst non-human
primate species that has not yet been explored. Additionally, if species are engaging in inbreeding, they may
pass down maladaptive traits that would result in their ultimate extinction regardless of conservation efforts.
Rates of inbreeding are relatively rare in nonhuman primates. In this study, I explore how social group
pattern influences rates of inbreeding within social units. I hypothesize that when primates are organized with
one dominant male or female, there will be more instances of inbreeding due to limited access to other, nonrelated primates of the opposite sex with whom they could mate.
Results across taxa suggest that rates of inbreeding seem to be uniform regardless of social structures and
hierarchies, and thus that the mechanisms that have evolved to decrease inbreeding are working across
primate societies. Ultimately, this is telling of the mechanisms used to create inbreeding avoidance. This
research will open the door for other studies to elaborate on the processes of inbreeding avoidance be they
genetic or cognitive. As for species conservation efforts, genetic diversity should always be taken into account
in order to produce the best individuals to release into the wild. This should be done regardless of evidence of
“natural” rates of inbreeding in the wild.
The Development and maintenance of social hierarchy in Japanese Macaques: The influence
of social interactions with mothers within the society
Audrey Ann Lois Villanueva, with Dr. Amy Rector-Verrelli. Dept. of Anthropology
Dominance hierarchies exist in males and females in many primate species. How these hierarchies are
maintained differ across taxa. The purpose of this research is to identify the different behaviors and
interactions that mothers portray within the social structure of Japanese macaques, Macaca fuscata that help
maintain hierarchies.
Dominance hierarchy exists in the matrilineal groups of Japanese macaques, among females and males. The
ranking status of hierarchy in males in Japanese macaque groups is known to be distinct and is attained
through birth. Similar to males, the ranking hierarchy in females is innately influenced by the ranking status
of the mother. Social behaviors among Japanese macaques are dominated by the social interactions of the
mothers within the society. This research focuses on the social behaviors of mothers through the different
ways in which Japanese macaque groups interact. Japanese macaques use grooming, mating strategies, and
vocalization to fortify their social bonds.
This research will provide beneficial information on the importance of the role of mothers in Japanese
macaque society, in regards to their influence on hierarchy through social behavior. These findings may be
useful in analyzing the effects and possible conclusions through the social actions of mothers in Japanese
macaque societies, and how they can allegedly alter their ranking in dominance hierarchy.
Meta-analysis of the origin of the different facial morphology of orangutan males
Mina Adnan, Dept. of Biology, with Dr. Amy Rector-Verrelli. Dept. of Anthropology
Unlike any other primate species, orangutans exhibit extraordinary sexual differences in their facial
morphology. Two different strategies are available for males that reach sexual maturity: either become fully
“flanged” and develop secondary sexual characteristics, which is known to be only developed by the dominant
male, or remain “unflanged” and not develop secondary sexual characteristics. The mechanism for how this
bimaturism evolved and how occurs is poorly understood, but both flanged and unflanged males are
reproductively successful.
This project explores the physiological mechanism behind bimaturism in orangutan males; namely, are
there genetic differences between flanged and unflanged males such that the strategy is inherited, is
bimaturism a result of hormonal differences, and how do the two strategies influence reproductive success in
male orangutans? Previous studies have shown that males that develop these “flanges” or cheek pads are
more likely to have a high reproductive success than the ones who do not develop them. Results suggest that
males with flanges emit a loud vocalization calls, also known as long calls, that give them higher opportunity
for mates.
Reproductive Synchrony Among Group-Living Females in Nonhuman Primates
Caitlin Williams, with Dr. Amy Rector-Verrelli, Dept. of Anthropology
A strategy is any behavioral pattern that appears to increase fitness because that behavior is adaptive
to the given environment, while reproductive ecology relates to the social interactions of primates and the
impact on food distribution and reproductive success. There are various strategies primates find adaptive to
their ecological context such as reproductive synchrony, which occurs in several taxa among nonhuman
primates. Generally, synchronic ovulation that occurs in group-living, nonhuman primate females is often
due to ecological and phylogenetic constraints. In this research, we evaluate the behavioral ecology and
reproductive success of females in three closely related Cercopithecidae species, such as Chlorocebus
aethiops, Macaca fascicularis, and Papio ursinus, to explore the influence of group strategy, life history, and
ecological context on rates of reproductive synchrony. In this comparative analysis, results suggest that
ecology and grouping strategy do influence reproductive synchrony because distributions of resources highly
affect social structure and reproductive strategies across taxa.
Primate Vocalizations and the Development of Human Speech
Raquel Wetzell, Dept. of Biology and Anthropology with Dr. Amy Rector-Verrelli, Dept. of Anthropology
Nonhuman primates communicate in a variety of ways, much of which encompasses vocalizations. The
amount of vocalizations used by different species, differs across taxa and habitat, and sometimes even
between different populations of the same species. Exploring nonhuman primate vocalizations gives insight
into the complex communication systems that exists between humans and how rudimentary language might
have arisen in early hominins. Human language is characteristic of having social elements to its development
and use and, therefore, in regards to the evolution of language, it is important to consider how different levels
and types of vocal communications in nonhuman primates relate to sociality. Additionally, questions form
over the ability of nonhuman primates to grasp human languages and use them towards creative ends.
This study will look at the vocalizations of orangutans, gorillas, gelada baboons, chimpanzees, and
macaques, both in wild and captive settings, to assess the influences of taxonomy, ecology, and sociality on
types of vocal communications. Results suggest that there are certain types of primate vocalizations that more
closely resemble human communication, and that social settings greatly impact use and development of
vocalizations, as is a trend also found in early human speech development. These studies can give us more
information about the evolution of language and the fundamental basics of human speech, furthering our
understanding of vocal communication through various approaches.
170.
Automating Domain Recognition in Nanotechnology Research
Joshua Ramer, Interdisciplinary Studies, with Dr. Nastassja Lewinski, Dept. of Chemical and Life Sciences
Engineering and Dr. Bridget McInnes, Dept. of Computer Science
Background: The body of nanotechnology research is growing at a rate that far outpaces our ability to utilize
it by reading abstracts in order to select useful papers for further investigation. Google scholar produces
1,730,000 abstracts when queried for nanotechnology. This issue will increase the time between discovery
and production of life-saving drugs and other important technologies.
Method: Documents are being classified into subdomains by trained annotators. Then, the process of
annotation is being automated using techniques in natural language processing. The approach that this
poster focuses on is document classification using Latent Semantic Indexing, a method that places
documents into high dimensional space as vectors that are closed under basic operations. The annotated
documents are vectorized, the new unclassified document is vectorized, and then a classification is chosen
according to the highest degree of similarity among the annotated documents.
Results: Pending completion.
Future Work: The body of training data is increasing due to annotation and potentially due to the creation of
an annotation game to get the masses involved. Other methods of document classification and preprocessing
are under testing and will eventually be included in a multifaceted approach aimed at improving classification
results. Further efforts are being directed toward automatically identifying specific molecular properties in
research.
171.
Nostalgia and Interpersonal Emotions and Behavior
Katherine Werner; Adriana Bos; Kristen Tully; Athena Cairo; Dr. Jeff Green, PhD, Dept. of Psychology
Nostalgia is defined as "a sentimental longing for a personally experienced and valued past" (Zhou, Wildschut,
Sedikides, Shi, & Feng, 2012, p. 300).Although nostalgia entails a bittersweet feeling that may sometimes
prompt sadness, nostalgic emotions have been shown to have positive other-oriented emotions and behavior.
Sedikides and Wildschut (2016) have found that nostalgia proneness is strongly, positively related to
empathic empathy (the tendency to experience other peoples' emotions). Additionally, Zhou, Wildschut,
Sedikides, Shi, and Feng (2012) found that when participants induced to recall a nostalgic compared to an
ordinary memory, they were more willing to volunteer time and money to charitable organizations.
One way in which nostalgia may also promote positive behavior is through stifling anger and anti-social
motivations. If nostalgic memories have a psychological function of enhancing social connectedness and
buffering against loneliness, nostalgia may also buffer against frustration and anger even under provocation.
We present the results of ongoing research examining whether participants who have just recalled nostalgic
memories are less defensive and likely to get annoyed after receiving negative feedback on a test, and less
likely to critique the person who gave them that feedback.
172.
Smart Fabrics for Colorimetric Chemical Detection
Breland Edwards, VCU Honors College, Dept. of Chemical and Life Sciences Engineering with Christina Tang,
Dept. of Chemical and Life Science Engineering
Due to the prevalence of chemical warfare, soldiers often carry chemical sensing devices, to warn of oncoming
nerve agents. However, these devices are cumbersome, so a lightweight, wearable chemical sensing fabric that
also protects against toxins would be beneficial. This fabric can be created by incorporating (1)
organophosphate hydrolase, an enzyme capable of degrading organophosphates and releasing an acidic by
product, and (2) polyaniline, which changes color from purple to green in the presence of acid, into nylon or
polyvinyl alcohol nanofibers. The first step is to produce fabrics containing polyaniline and demonstrate the
fabrics’ change color in the presence of an acid, in this case hydrochloric acid (HCl). We have grafted
polyaniline (PANI) onto the surface of acid-treated nylon nanofibers. Using visual detection, the lowest HCl
vapor concentration that was detected within 5 minutes was 95.2 ppm HCl. However, the lowest HCl vapor
concentration increased from 95.2 ppm to 632 ppm after the fabrics were reset in ammonium hydroxide nine
times. To investigate the cause, the fabrics after 0 resets and 10 resets were compared using Infrared
Spectroscopy (IR) and elemental analysis. IR graphs did not show significant change when comparing peaks
at 0 resets and 10 resets. However acid treated fabrics were compared to nonacid-treated fabrics and the peak
ratio of 1440 cm-1 to 1477 cm-1 was smaller for acid-treated than for nonacid-treated fabrics at all resets,
implying that the higher peak at 1477 cm-1 correlates to higher concentration of PANI. Elemental analysis
indicates a 2-fold decrease in Cl content in the emeraldine base form of PANI after ten resets. A loss of
dopant results in requiring a higher concentration of HCl to change the color of the fabrics, thus decreasing
the limit of detection.
173. The effects of Neighborhood Cohesion and Parental Control on Child Emotional
Regulation
Isabel B. Rose and Geri Beamer, Dept. of Psychology, with Dr. Wendy Kliewer, Dept. of Psychology
Children have varied responses to the neighborhoods where they live, ranging from quite positive to quite
negative. Researchers have found that neighborhood cohesion – the perception that neighbors care and look
out for one another -- is a protective factor against harsh family environments, and can moderate the
influence of a negative family environment, in turn helping a child develop healthy emotional regulation and
positive behaviors (Silk, Sessa, Morris, & Steinberg, 2004). Parental control moderates child emotional
regulation as children often depend on the influence and decisions of their parents and this parental control
also affects neighborhood exposure (Kim, Hetherington, & Reiss, 1999). In the present study, we evaluate the
joint contributions of neighborhood cohesion and parental control on child emotion regulation. Parental
control was examined as a moderator of the relation between neighborhood cohesion and child emotion
regulation. Data will be derived from Project COPE, a study of 358 low-income families. Both parenting
practices (Parental Control subscale, wave 1) and emotional regulation (a subscale from the ERC, wave 2)
were parent reported. Neighborhood cohesion (wave 1) is child reported. Emotional Regulation was assessed
in wave 2 rather than wave 1 to see the effect of the Parental Practices and Neighborhood Cohesion after year.
Results from this study will help develop and clarify the roles of parental control and neighborhood cohesion
in predicting youth emotional regulation development.
174. Using Eye Movement Measurement and Analysis During a Reading Task to Assess the
Effect of mTBI on the Saccadic System
Zoe Villamar, VCU Honors College, IMSD Research Scholar, Dept. of Biomedical Engineering, with Dr. Paul
Wetzel, Dept. of Biomedical Engineering
Purpose. Eye movements originate from and involve different areas of the brain. Brain injuries and certain
neurological diseases can affect these highly sensitive areas resulting in abnormal eye movement behavior. In
this study, objective eye movement measurement and analysis was used to assess individuals with mild
traumatic brain injury (mTBI) during reading. To read, requires voluntary discrete control of the eyes through
the saccadic branch of the oculomotor system including cognitive processing. Between saccades, which move
the eyes along a line of text, the eyes are fixated and remain stable as the letters and words are processed.
Besides oculomotor dysfunction, individuals with mTBI may also experience cognitive impairment which may
not be apparent compared to other much simpler visual tracking tasks. Methods. Five texts ranging in
difficulty from elementary to twelfth grade reading level were presented to each subject via computer display
positioned 70 cm from the subject. Each text was composed of 10 lines and contained roughly the same
number of characters per text. Subject’s eye movements were measured at 500 Hz using either the EyeLink II
or EyeLink 1000 (SR Research) binocular eye tracking systems. Subjects included individuals with mTBI and
normal college aged students. Recorded data were analyzed for the number of saccades; saccadic amplitude,
peak velocity, and acceleration; position accuracy; and fixation duration. Regressions to previous words and
blinks were also considered. Results. Findings show that the mTBI group has significantly more regressions
compared to the normal college-aged group. Individuals with mTBI also produced more fixations with smaller
amplitude saccades than the normal group. The mTBI group has a higher variance within all these measures,
suggesting that the way mTBI affects eye movements isn’t consistent. Conclusions. Significant differences
between the mTBI group and the control group suggest that mTBI can result in measurable changes in
saccadic eye movement behavior and potentially cognitive effects as well.
175. FEASIBILITY OF COMMUNITY-BASED YOGA VIDEOS FOR REDUCING TYPE 2
DIABETES INDICATORS IN AFRICAN AMERICAN WOMEN
Pascaline Ezouah, IMSD Research Scholar, with Dr. Candace Johnson, PhD, MPH, RN, VCU School of Nursing,
Virginia Commonwealth University
In 2012, 29.1 million Americans were diagnosed with type 2 diabetes (T2D). The risk of developing T2D rises
with older age, obesity, family history of diabetes, physical inactivity, stress, and race/ethnicity. Though
African-Americans make up 13.2% of the U.S. population, they are 1.7 times more likely to have T2D as nonHispanic whites and are at a significantly higher risk of death from conditions resultant of T2D such as
cardiovascular and kidney diseases. Although there are various conventional pharmacological treatments for
T2D, there has been a growing interest in the use of complementary therapies for adjuvant treatment, health
maintenance, and prevention of diabetes. Yoga, a mind-body therapy, has been shown to reduce pre-diabetes--elevated fasting blood glucose levels---thereby positively effecting type 2 diabetes by demonstrating favorable
trends in decreasing type 2 diabetes-related outcomes in as few as one session. The purpose of this 6-week
feasibility study was to explore the preliminary effects of a culturally tailored, community-based yoga video
intervention, YogicDance, on T2D-related health outcomes, specifically, pre-diabetes, in African American
women, ages 35-50 years, living in a metropolitan urban area. Other metabolic indicators, HDL cholesterol,
triglycerides, blood pressure, waist circumference, stress, and physical activity were also measured.
Descriptive statistics were used to determine size and availability of potential eligible pool, accrual, reasons
for refusal/attrition, completion rates of screening surveys, data collection procedures, and completion of
biological/physical data. T-tests and Wilcoxon-Sign Rank tests were used to compare pre-and postintervention metabolic syndrome measures. Focus groups were used to assess the feasibility of the
intervention and to explore the contextual meaning and experiences of yoga in the lives of the study
participants. This culturally-tailored mind-body therapy in this understudied group was determined to be
feasible, Behavioral interventions like YogicDance can offer a supportive therapy to the current conventional
treatments for type 2 diabetes.
176.
Size- and density-dependence of flatworm predation on a freshwater snail
Caroline Sorey, Dept. of Biology with Dr. James Vonesh, Dept. of Biology
Predation plays an integral role in shaping species distributions and community structure in aquatic systems.
Classical theory often assumes that the strength of interactions between predators and prey are constant
across prey abundance and prey phenotypes. However, empirical studies often show that per capita predation
rates decline with (1) increasing prey density as consumption becomes limited by handling time rather than
encounter rates, and with (2) increasing prey size as prey attain size refugia where they become invulnerable
to specific predators. Here we examine the degree to which prey density and size determine the strength of
predator-prey interactions between the predatory flatworm (Planariidae: Dugisia tigirna) and the freshwater
ramshorn snail (Planorbidae: Planorbis sp). These taxa commonly co-occur in rock pools along the James
River in Richmond, Virginia. To quantify size and density dependence in predation, we conducted a laboratory
experiment where we manipulated snail size and abundance in presence and absence of flatworm predators
and measured survival and egg production over 14 days. Initial results suggest there may be size dependence
in predation with smaller snails being more vulnerable. Understanding the degree to which predation is size
and density dependent in these taxa will facilitate the development of more accurate models of predator-prey
interactions between these taxa in freshwater systems.
177.
Comparative genomics and functional annotation of six Bacillus phages
Alexa Cro, Dalton Huey, Danarubini Ramanan, on behalf of the Spring 2017 VCU Phage Hunters, Dept. of
Bioinformatics, with Dr. Allison Johnson, Ph.D., Center for the Study of Biological Complexity
As part of the Fall 2015 and 2016 VCU Phage Labs, students discovered and purified six new Bacillusinfecting viruses, or bacteriophages. Four phages were isolated using Bacillus thuringiensis kurstaki as the
host bacteria (Janet, OTooleKemple52, Zainny, and PPisBest), and two phages were isolated using Bacillus
thuringiensis 350 (AaronPhadgers and Bubs). Sequencing of the phage DNA revealed that the six genomes
had lengths ranging from 159149 bp to 162692 bp with a mean GC content of 38.5%. The Spring 2017 Phage
Lab focused on the computational analysis of gene sequences and functional predictions of the proteins in
these phages to better understand the genetic relationships between the viruses. Students annotated the
open reading frames of each genome for the best starting position and predicted function. The annotation and
comparative genomics results of these six phages will be shared. For the second half of the semester, students
participated in the CACAO functional annotation competition. We focused on submitting ‘standard
annotations’ for proteins with published experimental results supporting endolysin, capsid and holin
function, and then submitted ‘transfer annotations’ for our phage protein sequences with sufficient homology.
Combined, our work will be submitted to Genbank and Gene Ontology databases for access by other
scientists.
178.
Analysis of protein-protein interactions of mycobacteriophage Giles
Rashmi Naidu, Adithya Balu, Yonel Beaulieu, Rebecca Garling, Zainab Gbadamosi, Brittany Hazard, Krishna
Karamsetty, Karun Rajesh, Cove Soyers, Zachary Varilla, Mitchell Vu and the Fall 2016 VCU Phage Hunters,
with Dr. Allison Johnson, Center for the Study of Biological Complexity
All proteins serve a variety of functions: from energy production, to interactions with enzymes, and
transportation and storage of molecules. Proteins can also perform as a complement to bacteriophages, thus
giving the phage a certain function in addition to impacting the bacterial host. Mycobacterium tuberculosis is
a bacteria strain that is found within patients who exhibit tuberculosis. Due to the increasing resistance of M.
tuberculosis to regular antibiotics, alternate ways are needed to control M. tuberculosis infections. One
potential method to control the M. tuberculosis infection could be to employ the use of mycobacteriophages for
treatment or therapy. As a course project, we investigated the mycobacteriophage Giles protein-protein
interactions as a way to predict possible protein functions. In order to decipher the possible protein functions
of mycobacteriophage Giles, a set of Giles proteins was tested for protein-to-protein interactions (PPI) for the
virus was tested to discover functions of the protein that wouldn’t be accomplished if proteins were studied
individually. For example, these PPI’s may link uncharacterized proteins to well-known and studied proteins.
For this specific experiment, a combination of two yeast two-hybrid (Y2H) vectors was used to in bait-andprey array construction. Our results provided examples of positive, negative, false positive and control results.
Each type of result will be displayed and the implications of true interactions will be discussed.
179.
Host Range Testing of Bacillus Phages
Emaan Chaudry, Shradda Adhikari, Ahmed Alqaffas, Ayshah Asmat, Brenna Kent,Srikethan Mahdavadi, Sarah
Otih, Samuel Portillo, Isabella Testoni, Zachary Varilla, Shravani Wadwekar, on behalf of the Fall 2016 VCU
Phage Hunters, with Dr. Allison Johnson, Ph.D., Center for the Study of Biological Complexity
Bacillus thuringiensis is a bacterium that is a part of the “ACT” family (includes the species B.
anthracis, B. cereus and B. thuringiensis). This bacterium is one of importance as it is commonly used as
biological pesticide, to control infestations of gypsy moth and larvae that impact agriculture. The Bacillus
thuringiensis subspecies kurstaki (BTK) strain was used in our class, and it is a bacteria that is known for its
commercial use in protecting agricultural crops, fruit trees, and more. Viruses that infect bacteria, or
bacteriophages, are useful as a tool to understand more about their host bacteria. Through our work, with the
use of techniques such as pipetting and aseptic protocol, 33 novel bacteriophages were isolated and purified.
Students evaluated the ability of their phages to effect multiple species and strains of Bacillus to test the host
range of these phages. The phages were spotted onto lawns of nine different bacteria and plates were
examined for lysis of the host bacteria. Seen through the results, phages were characterized with a narrow to
broad host range. A variety of plaque morphologies was observed. Finally, several experiments to confirm lysis
occurred through cycles of virus replication and lysis rather than through the action of free endolysin will be
discussed. The impact of such knowledge gives insight into the diversity of viruses discovered by our class as
well as the extent of their effectiveness against related species and strains of bacteria.
180.
The Misconceptions of the Health Risks associated with Tobacco Filters
Brian G. Jones, Dept. of Chemistry: Biochemistry, with Prof. Maggie Tinsley, VCU Honors College
I have researched the misconceptions that tobacco filters reduce health risks in order to better understand
the marketing techniques used by the tobacco industry and how they affect the public health. Approximately
443,000 people die in the United States each year from smoking, so it is crucial to understand the psychology
behind cigarette addiction and smoking behavior in order to reduce this statistic.
Most people believe that cigarette filters lower the risks caused by smoking. However, review of scholarly
documents suggests otherwise. I analyzed sources explaining how a cigarette filter works, the history of its
development, the health risks of smoking, and several comparative studies that determine the variance in
health risks between different degrees of filtration. Many sources detailed compensatory smoking “which is
the unconscious change in smoking behavior that negates any positive effects from filtration,” such as
blocking ventilation holes, taking deeper or longer puffs, and smoking more cigarettes per day. For example,
smokers were found to smoke more daily when smoking low-tar cigarettes compared to high-tar cigarettes.
Use of filters may also increase the prevalence of introduction to smoking in children and adolescents due to a
“smoother” product. The tobacco industry originally created the filter to reduce risk; however, they discovered
in the 1950-60’s that filters do not reduce health risk and then turned to using the filter as an incredibly
successful marketing tool.
Analysis of government sources shows that package warnings and educating smokers on health risks is also
successful in smoking cessation; however, the behaviors and psychology of smokers must be further
researched in order for previously effective programs to be advanced to be more effective than the tobacco
industry’s marketing tools and the addictive properties of nicotine.
181. The Use of Rhyme, Rhythm, and Melody as a Form of Repetition Priming to Aid in
Encoding, Storage, and Retrieval of Semantic Memories in Alzheimer’s Patients
Faiz Plastikwala, Dept. of Biology, with Prof. Mary Boyes VCU Honors College
Millions are diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease annually which can have debilitating effects on patient
memory. Thus, finding new ways to help facilitate memory in these patients, especially through nonpharmaceutical means, has become increasingly important. I examined the use of melody, rhyme, and
rhythm as encoding mechanisms to aid in the retrieval of long term semantic information by juxtaposing
scholarly articles detailing experiments, each of which examined the effects of various facets of memory
facilitation; this helped produce an idea of which devices are most effective. Additionally, I surveyed studies
highlighting limitations of song implementation to craft an effective plan to aid Alzheimer's patients.
Melody, rhyme, and rhythm provide an organizational structure to facilitate the encoding of information.
Specifically, chunking, the grouping of smaller units into larger ‘chunks’, helps facilitate long term encoding
in patients, and is the byproduct of the organizational structure of a text. A major drawback of using these
devices is the loss in the depth of encoding semantic information; however, it is important to recognize music
still assists general content memory. Therefore, Alzheimer's patients would benefit from the use of melody as
it would provide a moral support, helping familiarity with their surroundings, although they would not benefit
from instructional song. Future experiments may study the combination of discussed factors in various
settings to examine the unique benefits of music on memory in Alzheimer's patients.
182. Kinetic Analysis of alpha-N-terminal Methylation on Oncoprotein SET
Kathryn Marshman, Dept. of Biology, with Brie Mackie, and Rong Huang, VCU School of Pharmacy
N-terminal methyltransferase 1 (NTMT1) is a writer protein that catalyzes the addition of a methyl
group onto the alpha-N-terminus of its protein substrates. Protein α-N-terminal methylation by NTMT1 has
shown to play a significant role in protein-protein interactions, protein-DNA interactions and cell mitosis.
Recently, oncoprotein SET, a known potent inhibitor of protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A), has been identified as
a substrate for NTMT1. The inhibition of PP2A by SET plays a vital role in cell differentiation in humans, and
has been linked to multiple forms of cancer such as B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) and Wilms’ tumor.
However, there is no information about the function of alpha-N-terminal methylation on the SET protein.
Given the significance of oncoprotein SET, we aim to characterize the alpha-N-terminal methylation of SET
protein. We synthesized three peptides that are derived from SET by solid-phase chemistry using an
automatic microwave peptide synthesizer, followed by purification via HPLC and characterization through
MALDI-MS. The recombinant SET protein was purified via affinity chromatography and the concentration was
quantified after analysis through SDS-PAGE gel electrophoresis. We applied an SAH hydrolase-coupled
fluorescence assay to monitor the production of SAH by a ClarioStar plate reader. All assays were performed
in triplicate. Data analysis was done using GraphPad Prism 7 and fit to the Michaelis-Menten equation. Our
results showed that Km values were 3.8 ± 0.3 µM and 6.3 ± 1. 3 µM for the 6-mer peptides and 1.9 ± 0.2 µM
for the 10-mer peptide. Preliminary results show the full-length SET protein having a lower Km,, initially than
the 10-mer and 6-mer peptides. However, gel concentrations of TAF1a show multiple bands, indicating
further purification is necessary. After additional purification, studies will be run in triplicate to confirm
preliminary data. These results would be the first to elucidate information on the kinetic mechanism of
NTMT1 and the oncoprotein SET.
183. The Bamboo Ceiling: A Study of Barriers to Asian American Advancement
Emily Cheng, Dept. of Biomedical Engineering, with Prof. Maggie Tinsley, VCU Honors College
The idea of cultural diversity in the workplace is a popular one, generating much discussion about the
inclusion of and affirmative action toward minorities. However, these conversations rarely involve Asian
Americans, who despite above-average levels of educational achievement, household income, and
employment, find themselves underrepresented in and shut-out of upper-level management positions. In this
project, I investigated the stereotype of East-Asian Americans as a model minority (created by non-Asians) to
find out why East-Asian Americans are underrepresented in upper-level management in corporate
workplaces, a phenomenon known as the “bamboo ceiling.” I explored a variety of scholarly sources that
analyzed the historical implications of the “model minority” stereotype as well as factors believed to contribute
to the aggregation of Asian Americans in technical rather than managerial roles in the workplace.
I determined that the Asian American experience and ensuing model minority myth is strongly tied to
America’s poor history with prejudice and discrimination against racial minorities. Asian Americans are
consistently stereotyped as perpetual foreigners with poor language and communications skills, and they are
excluded from networking, mentoring, and training pipelines to promotions to management. These barriers
result in a “bamboo ceiling,” preventing East-Asian Americans from proportionally rising to management or
major decision-making roles within an organization.
The aim of this project is to bring attention to the role of implicit and institutional discrimination in hiring
and promotional practices within American corporations as they concern Asian Americans, who are not
traditionally considered victims of racial and ethnic discrimination. My research has also shown that the
“model minority” stereotype is a harmful myth that masks deep-seated social and racial issues that continue
to plague our nation today. I hope that continued dialogue concerning stereotyping and discrimination will
bring more awareness to the issue and contribute toward the attainment equality for all.
184. Creating Nursing Home Living Environments that Prioritize Safety and Quality of Life
Jessica Nguyen, Dept. of Biomedical Engineering, with Prof. Maggie Tinsley, VCU Honors College
Nursing home residents exhibit high rates of depression after entering the nursing home environment, often
from loneliness, loss of purpose, and loss of individualism. Under the culture-change revolution, the idealized
nursing home has progressed away from health care institution to long-term living facility characterized by
holistic person-centered care that prioritizes patient preference and quality of life. Previous research has
shown that the adoption of person-centered care is often accompanied by increased exposure to risk and
illness.
I compared safety climates in long-term care nursing facilities and compared nursing home models of personcentered care in order to determine how American nursing homes can create environments that
simultaneously balance the objectives of safety and health with personalized care to preserve the wellbeing
and quality of life of elderly patients. My research demonstrated that standards of safety can be maintained in
a person-centered care nursing model by involving the entire facility in a paradigm shift through safety
education, workshops, and participation of nursing home staff in developing facility-specific approaches to
personalized care. Strong leadership and active involvement of staff in culture change were key predictors of
success in person-centered care implementation and safety adherence.
Currently, one of the predominant deterrents to adopting person-centered care is the fear of litigation from
risks evolving from removing the safe, institutionalized element of the nursing home; nursing home
administrators often view safety and person-centered care as opposing goals. By implementing safety
education and facility discussion of safety measures alongside person-centered care, nursing homes can
preserve the quality of life and promote mental and physical wellbeing in elderly patients.
185. The Effects of a Mutated MC4R Gene Can Be Limited by Melatonin
Chandni Patel, Dept. of Biology, with Prof. Maggie Tinsley, VCU Honors College
Obesity is a disease that is becoming increasingly prevalent in the human population. Obesity, which
is defined as the excess of adipose tissue due to a positive energy balance, can be caused by many factors,
including genetics, diet, and the environment. I am studying the mutations of the melanocortin 4 receptor
gene (MC4R) because I want to find out how the effects of a mutated MC4R gene can be limited through the
use of melatonin in order to help my reader understand one of the genetic causes of obesity and how to
prevent obesity in the presence of a mutated MC4R gene.
In order to learn more about the relationship between obesity and the MC4R, I researched journal
articles about studies conducted on obese individuals with mutations of the MC4R. These experiments
concluded that mutations of the MC4R cause monogenic obesity in humans because the MC4R was unable to
maintain a balance between food intake and energy expenditure. I then ventured into scholarly sources that
introduced new and different perspectives of the MC4R. I discovered that there is a relationship between the
MC4R and the circadian rhythm. In animals, melatonin can be used to decrease food intake and regulate
other hormones associated with hunger and satiety like ghrelin and leptin.
Even though more research needs to be done, melatonin can be used as a potential treatment option
for individuals with obesity due to mutations of the MC4R gene as melatonin not only helps to regulate the
circadian rhythm but it also plays a role in appetite control.
186. Mindfulness Implementation in Elementary Schools: Improving Student Mental Health
Tiffany Phan, Dept. of Psychology, with Prof. Mary Boyes, VCU Honors College
Urban elementary school students are exposed to increasing levels of stressors due to many factors including
academic rigor and poverty, which have contributed to the prevalence of anxiety, depression, suicidal
cognition, and decreased physical and mental health. Although schools advocate for the reduction of negative
behavior such as bullying and antisocial behavior there has been little research or action to improve
children’s overall well-being which includes health, academic achievement, and happiness. I am focusing this
study on the benefits of implementation of mindfulness meditation curriculum for students in low income
areas who suffer from stress and depression in order to find out if mindfulness may be a means to improve
overall well-being of students. I have reviewed published works on research looking at brain structure
changes as a result of mindfulness meditation, pilot mindfulness curriculum in elementary schools, and
stress reduction with mindfulness. I have found that many of these studies on mindfulness show an increase
in positive behaviors and functions such as enhanced self-regulation and awareness, as well as a decrease in
negative behaviors and functions such as stress, depression, anxiety, and suicidal cognition. Although none
of the current mindfulness programs in schools have a uniform curriculum, many of the relatively successful
programs emphasize yoga, mindful walks in nature, mindful discussions, or gratitude activities.
Implementation of a short, daily mindfulness curriculum, which includes an amalgamation of the
aforementioned physical, mental, and spiritual practices of mindfulness in urban elementary schools in the
United States will be most beneficial to the overall well-being of students.
187. Adipose Stem Cells and Their Potential as Healing Agents for Burn Victims: Abstract
Delaney Savedge, Health and Human Performance, with Prof. Mary Boyes, VCU Honors College
Burn wounds are typically treated with debridement and bandaging or with skin grafts from skin flaps
or organ donation. Such treatments often lead too scarring, decreased mobility, and necrosis. There is
currently no established and consistently positive treatment for burn wounds. I am studying the use of
adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs) to assist the healing of burn wounds because I want to find out how ASCs
compare to other stem cell types for the treatment of burns in order to determine where stem cell/burn
research should be focused in the future. I examined several studies that used mainly mouse models to test
ASCs for their influence on aspects of the wound healing process such as growth factors, cell proliferation
rate, and angiogenesis. The ASCs were used in various techniques including injection under skin grafts, in
vivo and in vitro graft formation, and injection into a wound site. In all studies I examined, ASCs increased
the VEGF growth factor, cell proliferation, and angiogenic factors which encourage even and faster wound
healing. These factors, along with the availability, ease of retrieval, and the ability to differentiate into multiple
tissue types, make ASCs the ideal stem cell type to use for regenerative medicine. After considering the results
of my research, I have concluded that the next step for stem cell research on epidermal and dermal
regeneration should be focused on adipose stem cells in human models. ASCs have shown positive effects in
animal models, however the research on their affect on human skin is lacking.
188. Black-Korean Conflict: The Influence on Korean American Involvement in Black Lives
Matter
Malia Bates, Dept. of Culture and Extended Media, with Prof. Faye Prichard, VCU Honors College
There is a current lack of visible action and involvement of the Korean American community in the Black
Lives Matter movement, even though the issue relates to many ethnic groups and affects the Asian
community in the US. I want to know if the Black-Korean conflict of the late 80’s and early 90’s negatively
affected the current level of involvement from the Korean community in the BLM movement in the US today. I
examined articles discussing the different contributing reasons behind the tensions that led to the BlackKorean conflict, such as economic and social status, merchant and customer relations, cultural differences
and perceptions, and media interpretations. I also investigated the influence of the media and the different
political views of South Asian immigrant elders and second generation youth on the involvement of Koreans in
BLM. My current research appears to show that the second-generation Korean immigrant youth actively
support the BLM movement and aren’t negatively influenced by the Black-Korean conflict. I am still exploring
whether the Black-Korean conflict has affected the involvement of the older generation of Koreans in the US.
Further research and data must be gathered on the current views of the Asian American community on the
BLM movement and specific groups within the community, such as Korean Americans and comparison of
different age groups. It is difficult to determine the level of support and involvement until then.
189. A Combined Model for Part-of-Speech Tagging and Word Sense Disambiguation of
Mandarin Chinese Determinative Measure Compounds
Abigail Byram, Dept. of Computer Science, with Prof. Mary Boyes, VCU Honors College
Natural Language Processing research has traditionally been focused on English and lexically-similar
languages, but has recently shifted to include non-western languages such as Mandarin Chinese. Chinese
language is becoming increasingly significant worldwide, indicating a need for improved automatic recognition
and understanding of Chinese text for applications in machine translation, information extraction, and
automatic summarization. Most challenges in Chinese text processing stem from lexical and syntactic
differences from English and the high rate of ambiguous words. Word sense and part-of-speech ambiguities
are a significant cause of error in Chinese text processing especially for compounds and function words such
as Determinative Measure (DM) compounds. This study aims to create an optimal combination of word sense
disambiguation (WSD) and part-of-speech tagging (POS) methods for DM compounds. In this study, existing
approaches to POS tagging and WSD of DM compounds were analyzed to discover which methods promotes
accuracy and are most compatible with other models. Published POS ambiguity resolution methods utilizing
statistical taggers trained on large, unannotated corpora were compared with methods relying on supervised
taggers trained on manually-annotated data. Pre-existing rulesets and statistical methods for WSD were
evaluated to identify methods providing the greatest improvement in parsing accuracy of DM compounds.
Open-source sense representation frameworks were also analyzed and assessed in combination with other
disambiguation methods. The contrast and consolidation of these methods indicated that by aligning and
combining models, disambiguation accuracy rates can be compounded. Consolidating the above models into a
comprehensive model may significantly improve DM compound disambiguation accuracy. The model must be
implemented to quantify accuracy improvement and be altered to promote efficiency. Because this model
utilizes several disambiguation methods, it would likely be excessively processing-intensive. Future work may
require a focus on maintaining optimal accuracy while limiting processing requirements.
190. Can a layer of antimicrobial agents be placed around breast implants to prevent staph
infections from occurring?
Valerie Tran, Dept. of Computer Science, with Prof. Faye Prichard, VCU Honors College
The most common infection that occurs after breast augmentation is a staph infection. Currently, there are
only three ways to treat this type of infection, all of which treat the breast implant after the infection has
developed. The first option is to treat the infection with an oral antibiotic. If this doesn’t completely rid the
infection, then intravenous antibiotics are used. If this too doesn’t remove the infection, then surgery will be
performed to remove the breast implant and a new implant will be inserted. Although, these options have a
low mortality rate, the success rate of completely getting rid of the infection, within the first try, is low.
Therefore, there needs to be a way to completely stop the occurrence of staph infections, within the first try.
That is why a literature review of research is being conducted to see if a thin layer of antimicrobial agents can
be placed around the breast implant to prevent staph infections from occurring. If this is possible then staph
infections can significantly decrease, and the cost of having the patient to undergo more surgery or
treatments options will also decrease. Currently, a variety of scholarly sources from a range of authors will be
evaluated to compare which antimicrobial agents would correspond best with the proposed solution. In
addition, other scholarly sources will be used to see if other methods are available or more efficient than what
was originally presented. Furthermore, other sources that have studies that oppose the use of an
antimicrobial agent around an implant will also be taken into consideration as well. This is implemented in
the literature of research, to combat any possible challenges and introduce solutions to these issues. As of
now, the current trend from my research shows that the use of antimicrobial agents around breast implants
surpass the efficiency and effectiveness of other methods that are currently being proposed to combat staph
infections. Future implications that can arise from this, is the ability to conduct further research on other
implants, to see if a layer of antimicrobial agents can also be used.
191. Evidence-Based Interventions and Psychotropic Medication Use Among Foster Care
Populations
Leena Penumalee, Dept. of Biology, with Prof. Faye Prichard, VCU Honors College
Research surrounding psychotropic drug use and mental health of foster care youth is very relevant
because foster care children are one of the most vulnerable populations in the United States. Individuals in
child welfare not only have higher incidences of mental health disorders but they are also often prescribed too
much psychotropic medication. An innovative approach to enhance mental health is evidence-based
interventions, treatments that focus on a helping a child in a specific area of their health. I want to find out
how evidence-based interventions can be used to supplement psychotropic medication to improve mental
health outcomes for foster care children. To answer this question, I analyzed rates of psychotropic drug use
among foster care children in many states. I also examined current ineffective mental health treatments in
foster care settings. I investigated the implementation science of evidence-based interventions and how EBIs
affect individuals of different ethnicities. My research suggests that evidence-based interventions can greatly
enhance mental health outcomes for foster care children. I am still exploring the effects of psychotropic
medication on EBIs. More foster care settings should incorporate EBIs into mental health treatment regimens.
Additionally, future researchers should investigate the long-term implications of psychotropic medication use
during youth.
192. Subversive Drag Culture and the Breakdown of the Gender Binary in American Queer
Culture in the Context of the Diffusion of the HIV/AIDS Epidemic
Matthew Helton, Interdisciplinary Studies, with Prof. Faye Prichard, VCU Honors College
As a member of the LGBTQIA+ community, I am fascinated by the intersectionality of my own identity
and belief system. I am captivated by my cultural history and by the evolution of my own community. I need
to know where I’ve been so I can better advocate where I need to go. The HIV/AIDS epidemic, which viciously
attacked subsets of the American population from seemingly nowhere, devastated the American queer
community starting in the early 1980s. To date, hundreds of thousands of queer people have died from AIDSrelated illnesses. I am interested in researching what, besides the facts of basic biology, culturally facilitated
the spread of HIV through the queer community. The outbreak and diffusion of HIV/AIDS through the
American queer community occurred following the gay liberation movement and sexual revolution of the
1960s-1970s within American culture. This begs the question of whether subversive drag culture in the
American queer community facilitated the sexual revolution of the late 1970s that led to the outbreak and
diffusion of the HIV/AIDS epidemic, and if so, how? I have extensively researched queer history, examined
academic articles detailing drag culture and performance along with gender and sexuality presentation, and I
have explored anthropological and ethnographic data regarding the HIV/AIDS epidemic. My current research
shows that the subliminal and intrinsic marketing of subversive drag culture impacted the way the American
queer community conceptualized the deconstruction of the binary construct of gender through the gay
liberation movement, facilitating participation in the cultural sexual revolution of the late 1970s that led to
the outbreak and diffusion of the HIV/AIDS epidemic. It is important to note that drag culture in no way
caused the spread of HIV/AIDS; however, drag serves as a metaphor for the breakdown of the construct of
gender roles that helped contribute to the spread of the epidemic. It is impossible to know the full effect that
subversive drag culture had on the American queer community, but this area deserves further research as it
is a crucial portion of intersectional American history that contributes to our modern understanding of the
world.
193. Nuclear Power and Pumped Hydroelectric Energy Storage as a Response to Global
Climate Change in the Andean Nations
James Robinson, Dept. of Electrical Engineering, with Prof. Faye Prichard, VCU Honors College
Hydroelectric power is a crucial element of the infrastructure of the nations of the Andes mountain
range, providing from 33 to 68 percent of the total generation capacity, depending on the nation. However,
over the next eighty years, global climate change is projected to have a major detrimental impact on
hydroelectric generation capacity, forcing those nations to search for alternatives to fill the emerging gaps in
their electricity supply. If renewable energy is to truly replace hydroelectric power, some storage method will
be necessary and, at the moment, the only truly practical method is the pumped hydro storage (PHS) system.
I intend to compare the technological, economical, and ecological impacts of the PHS system with the
introduction of nuclear power plants in the nations of the Andes by means of environmental impact, siting
factors, cost per unit energy over facility lifetime, and contributions to power grid features such as stability
and dispatch response time. At this point, it appears that while nuclear systems would be more ecologically
sound, more stable as a power source, and possibly cheaper, it would also be much more technologically
intensive, could face political backlash, and could be more expensive. These results remain tentative, as more
data is needed regarding the existing technological capacity of these nations to build the nuclear plants, along
with the viability of PHS with regards to the impacts of climate change. It will be critical for these nations to
resolve the issue of power production methods in the coming decades in order to not only maintain existing
levels of demand, but also keep up with the expected dramatic expansions in demand over the next several
decades.
194. The Relationship Between Off-Gridders and the American Dream
Brenna Kent, Dept. of Bioinformatics, with Prof. Faye Prichard, VCU Honors College
A subset of Americans is choosing to disconnect from the electrical grid in order to live a more simplistic life
and become self-sufficient. Although this may seem contrary to the ideals of the American Dream such as
home-ownership and the acquisition of goods, it provides individuals with independence and the opportunity
to make new connections with others without the trivial pressures of modern society. My research question isHow has the increasing difficulty of achieving the American Dream contributed to people’s choice to live off
the grid. In order to answer this question, I have examined both sociological and economic articles discussing
the evolution of the American Dream and whether or not it is still attainable in today’s society. I also reviewed
primary sources from off-gridders and ethnographic data based off of interviews conducted at 175 different
off-grid sites in Canada. Sources that studied similar movements such as the back to the land movement or
voluntary simplicity were also investigated. All of these articles were then synthesized in order to reach a
conclusion. Although I originally believed that economic reasons would be the main contributing factor to
choosing to leave the grid, after conducting research I now believe that leaving the grid is simply the next
iteration of inner-dependent people as described by sociologists Reisman, Glazer, and Denney. These selfmotivated people have chosen to redefine the American Dream in a way similar to those who participated in
the back to the land movement. In order to support this claim, more research needs to be conducted on
American off-gridders. The majority of scholarly research on off-gridders comes from Canada or other
countries, leaving the United States underrepresented. With more research, the relationship off-gridders
share with the American Dream will become more clearly defined.
195. Addressing Laterality to Prevent Injury in Dance Education: Teaching Methods to
Compensate for the Right Bias and Asymmetry
Olivia Alsamadi, Dept. of Dance and Choreography, with Prof. Mary Boyes, VCU Honors College
Despite the vast knowledge available about proper alignment and safe dance training, the growing demands
for university dancers have plagued them with increasing rates of overuse injuries stemming from an
imbalance in their practice often influenced by their professors. The purpose of this review is to study
teaching methods in dance education and the right bias in university dance classes to learn how unbalanced
teaching methods and dancers’ asymmetric physicalities cause injuries. This research will help professors
understand how to effectively communicate with their students to promote safe, injury preventing practice.
The research explores the various roles present in the problem, including the involvement of the student,
professor, and even the physical therapist. This review investigates the influence the professor’s language
and actions have on the student’s behaviors. For instance, how the student may interpret the language
differently from the professor’s true intentions. Also considered in the research is the implementation of
screening students for any physical asymmetries or weaknesses at the beginning of each semester to develop
a basis for individual conditioning programs to work toward evolving a more balanced body. In addition to
these programs, the research examines the dancers’ attitudes toward the implementation of these programs
as well as fully complying with their physicians’ requests during injury. The current research shows that
students are more likely to learn about proper alignment and human anatomy than they are to actually
embody the information and change their technique habits that are causing these injuries. There is a low
percentage of physical therapists who treat dancers and understand how unique dance injuries are and how
dance culture influences the prescribed treatment and recovery periods. The research done on university
dance programs demonstrates that many schools do not offer an injury prevention course in their core
requirements. Universities should strengthen their relationships between their dancers, professors, and
physicians, which includes a required injury prevention course that is integrated into their other courses.
196. The Arc Model: Utilizing Distributed and Emergent Narrative Structures to Preserve
Immersion Within Alternate Reality Games
Benjamin Dalton, Dept. of Forensic Science, with Prof. Mary Boyes, VCU Honors College
Alternate reality games (ARGs), a relatively new sub-genre of pervasive gaming, have historically been used
within advertising campaigns. Since 2009, the popularity of film-based ARGs has increased greatly and has
been accompanied by inconsistent pacing, poor character development, lack of meaningful symbolism, and a
great number of plot holes within these created games. This study examines the ability of distributed
narrative structure and emergent narrative structure to preserve immersion within film-based ARGs. The
games Marble Hornets, Everyman Hybrid, and This House Has People in It provided primary insight into the
narrative structure and pacing of ARGs. Alan Resnick’s This House Has People in It represents a case of
asynchronous temporal trajectory, Marble Hornets created many of the tropes which now permeate the genre,
and Everyman Hybrid emphasizes player agency and the emergent narrative to a greater extent than other
cases. Ten additional articles provided preexisting models and theory including but not limited to: a developed
metric for player enjoyment, the ludic notion of “this is not a game”, the collective intelligence and creation of
the emergent narrative, and the ARG world model (proposes a branching narrative structure and limited
player agency). The analysis of these sources suggests that major narrative structure flaws can be solved via a
proposed arc model for ARG creation. The model posits that consistent temporal trajectory, focus on player
agency, a distributed narrative based around short form arcs, and the promotion of the emergent narrative
will result in the most immersive film based ARG experience. In order to confirm that the model successfully
fixes issues within narrative structure and pacing a film-based alternate reality game must be created using
the arc model as a template.
197. Hormonal Secretion Responses During and After Continuous and Interval Training
Kirubel Kentiba, Dept. of Biology with Prof. Faye Prichard, VCU Honors College
I had never been a person who looked at physical activity with much interest. However, like many
others, I became interested in bodybuilding after my friends introduced me to it. When working out with
different friends, I was exposed to different regimens, and the workouts could be grouped into two categories,
high intensity and rest, known as interval training, and a continuous intensity with little to no rest, known as
continuous training. I always wondered which method was better in building muscle and if there was any
correlation between the different methods, hormonal secretions, and muscle growth. My question for my
research is “How do different types of exercise, interval vs. continuous, result in the different levels of
secretion of hormones, during and after a workout?” In order to test this question, I looked at studies in
which tests were conducted comparing hormonal secretions in multiple types of exercises, including running
and weightlifting. In the studies I look at, the subjects were at the same standard and the experimenters were
for the most part, graduates with doctorates . Furthermore, I looked at the research coming from a
perspective that goes past my area of expertise : weightlifting. This question and research would thus include
other methods of exercise like running. This will provide results that can then be used to enhance
performance in all areas of athletics thus making the research more impactful. I expect the result of this
research to support the hypothesis that interval training will cause more hormonal stimulation. This is
because more research is being conducted revealing the many advantages of the practice. This research can
then be used to help athletes and common people exercise in a manner that is efficient and reaps the most
reward in terms of performance and overall well-being.
198. Desmosomal Gene Expression During Embryological Development In Xenopus laevis
Morgan Van Driest, VCU UROP Summer Research Fellow, Dept. of Bioinformatics, with Navaneetha Krishnan
Bharathan and Dr. Amanda Dickinson, Dept. of Biology
The main purpose of this experiment was to investigate the desmoplakin protein. It is one of three major
components that make up the desmosome-intermediate filament complex (DIFC). This particular complex is
thought to play an important role in adhesion of epithelial cells in both the heart and skin. Without proper
functioning of the DIFC and its protein components, there is potential for many physiological defects to occur.
Such defects include skin lesions, loss of cardiac cells and in severe cases death may occur. In order to gain a
better understanding of these defects, desmoplakin was chosen as the protein of focus. Characterization
began with a qualitative analysis of its functional domains. The desmoplakin protein sequence of the model
organism Xenopus laevis was compared to the desmoplakin proteins of Homo sapiens, Mus musculus, Danio
rerio, and Xenopus tropicalis. From the results of this analysis, it is thought that protein domains of
desmoplakin are largely conserved in humans. Based on this, further experimentation was carried out on the
protein using Xenopus laevis embryos. A current PhD candidate in the Dickinson Lab performed a
knockdown of the desmoplakin gene within the embryos. The protein was no longer expressed and this
project then aimed to characterize the phenotypes that resulted. A statistical analysis was performed on the
knockdown data and showed that loss of desmoplakin resulted in minimized growth within the embryos, as
well as cranial facial abnormalities and tearing of the epidermis. These findings provide some insight on the
importance of desmoplakin within the DIFC and how its loss of function may influence the development of
many complex disorders within humans. Future directions of this study include investigation of other DIFC
components and their interactions with desmoplakin.
199. How has American Media Shifted the On-Screen Image of Asian Americans from
Stereotypical Roles to Lead Roles?
Sohail Syed, Dept. of Bioinformatics, with Prof. Faye Prichard, VCU Honors College
In American film and television, there is a lack of Asian characters in a lead role who are also not stereotyped.
Growing up in America, this lack of lead Asians characters often lead to many Asian American children
deficient of role models whom they could strive to be. But in recent years there has been a spike in the
number of lead Asian roles and a downfall in the number of stereotyped Asian roles. This study focuses on
determining how American media has shifted the on-screen image of Asian Americans from stereotypical roles
to lead roles. I investigated articles that looked at the different time periods surrounding stereotypes of Asians
and treatment of Asian Americans. I examined scholarly sources which defined the stereotypes present in film
and television media. I also analyzed primary sources of Asian American in lead Hollywood television and film
roles. My current research shows that more non-stereotyped representation with real Asian actors and
actresses allows for social stigmas against Asian Americans to become less prominent. It is currently
impossible to determine whether or not this introduction of more Asians on screen has resulted in the onscreen shift until further research is made on Asian American stereotypes and media. Further research is
necessary for more in depth analysis.
200. Abstract: Breastfeeding as a Mechanism to Reduce Postpartum Depression in Hispanic
Women
Celia Wilson, Dept. of Biology, with Prof. Mary Boyes, VCU Honors College
Postpartum Depression (PPD) is the most common childbearing-related illness around the globe
affecting both mothers and their children, yet very minimal longitudinal research has been done to study the
effect of depressive symptomatology on breastfeeding. This study analyzes how the benefits of breastfeeding
past six months, postpartum, can be used as a treatment mechanism for postpartum depression (PPD) with
the major contributing factor of gestational weight gain (GWG) in Hispanic women recently immigrated to the
United States. I investigated journal articles in four main domains: the likelihood of women presenting with
depressive symptomatology as a result of weight gain to initiate and continue breastfeeding, the negative
association between increasing maternal antepartum weight and breastfeeding, the possible biological
explanations for PPD in women who don’t breastfeed, and the benefits that breastfeeding past six months
postpartum can have on MDE and GWG in women. I identified that correlations between antepartum weight
and GWG increase the rate of MDE among women, which has an inverse relationship on women’s likelihood
to initiate and continue breastfeeding. Cessation of breastfeeding can put women at risk for increased weight
gain and toxic levels of retinoids (Vitamin A) that can lead to cognitive disturbances. Since no longitudinal
studies have been conducted specifically examining this comorbidity, more data needs to be collected to
support the hypothesis. However, using principles of biopsychology to bridge the gap between the biological
explanation for a major depressive episode (MDE), a culturally appropriate educational plan could be effective
in making women aware of potential risks factors of PPD before pregnancy.
201. Emphasizing Common Childhood Anxieties in Children’s Fantasy: An Analysis of the
Illustrations in Matilda and Charlotte’s Web
Ellie Erhart, Dept. of Communication Arts, with Prof. Mary Boyes, VCU Honors College
The factors that make books appealing to children are relevant not only to creators of children’s
literature, but to anyone involved in children’s reading education. However, there is little research on how a
book’s illustrations, specifically, contribute to the book’s ability to remain relatable across multiple
generations of children. This lack is surprising, as illustrations have a huge impact on the way children
interpret a book’s story. To fill this gap, research on recurring themes in children’s fantasy literature was
examined in order to identify patterns in the types of stories that last and see how they apply to the
illustrations of those stories. An analysis of the illustrations of two books aimed at upper elementary school
students, Matilda by Roald Dahl and Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White, demonstrates how illustrations
emphasize these common patterns in children’s fantasy.
Many common patterns in children’s fantasy—such as placing the protagonist in exaggeratedly
dangerous situations or emphasizing the divide between children and adults, especially by giving the child
characters magical powers—are exaggerations of the fears and challenges inherent in the experience of
growing up. Children’s fantasy also tends to make a point to ultimately provide reassurance to the reader,
often by adopting a soothing tone or having an ending that reassures the reader that the main conflict has
indeed been resolved. Not only do the texts of both Matilda and Charlotte’s Web follow these patterns, but the
way each individual book interprets these patterns is reflected in the stylistic choices of the illustrators. The
relationships between illustration, text, and the childhood experience reveal how all these separate
components are dependent on each other in order to create an enduring piece of children’s fantasy.
202. Urbanization and Domestication: Behavioral and Morphological Changes in Wild
Animals Inhabiting Urban and Anthropologically Shaped Environments
Abhishiktha Kasanagottu, Dept. of Psychology, with Prof. Faye Prichard, VCU Honors College
As human and animal populations grow with areas of human land use expanding, we must confront our
encroachment on wild invertebrate habitats through urbanization. Domesticated or urbanized animals
including rats, raccoons, birds, and squirrels undergo behavioral and morphological changes in relation to
their wild counterparts. This increase in interaction between urban or domesticated invertebrates and
humans can lead to the spread of infectious diseases. Additionally, wild animals interact with domesticated
household pets and livestock in manners such as predation and spread of disease. In order to understand
aforementioned behavioral and morphological changes, I investigated the consequences of human interaction
and the change in environment on wild invertebrate behavior approaching domestication and how
invertebrates situated in urban environments impact animal population, ecology, and invertebrate behavior. I
explored scholarly journals, focusing on studies involving comparisons between certain domesticated or
laboratory animal species and their wild counterparts, and research articles concerning invertebrate behavior
modification induced by human stressors and urbanization. These behavior modifications included movement
and activity, diets, reproduction, mortality, disease, and pollution. In my research, I found differences in
aggression and avoidance learning in laboratory rats and their wild equivalents, along with negative changes
in anti-predator response in the urbanized Eurasian red squirrel. In addition, I discovered that domestication
can increase the reproductive frequency of the silver fox. With regards to urbanization, my research indicated
the urban blackbird lives longer than the rural blackbird due to nesting habits and availability of resources.
After finding that urban landscapes may have favorable conditions compared to wild habitats, scientists
successfully reintroduced the peregrine falcon into an urban environment with the intention of recovery and
species conservation. My results demonstrate both positive and negative consequences of domestication and
urbanization in invertebrates, thus further research on specific species conducted by the scientific community
could guide beneficial action.
203. The effect of the physical hospital environment on the mental and physical well-being
of patients
Hannah Ngo, Dept. of Biology, with Prof. Faye Prichard, VCU Honors College
A visit to the hospital can oftentimes be a stressful experience for patients who suffer from serious
illnesses and must stay for an extended period of time. Not only can it be physically draining, but it can also
be emotionally and mentally draining, especially for patients who are constantly being moved in and out of
treatments and surgeries. A patient’s experience varies drastically depending on where he or she goes. It
might seem as though experiences at the hospital are solely dependent on the care received from doctors and
nurses, but physical aspects of the hospital space can play an equally important role as well. I want to know
whether physical elements of the hospital room have a significant impact on patients’ well-being and healing
process. I researched for specific components of hospital rooms that have been found to promote patient
healing, as well as components that have hindered or impaired it. My current research shows that there are
three main components of the hospital that significantly affect patients’ well-being: noise/sound, nature, and
architectural designs. The presence of certain aspects in the hospital room such as music, sunlight, and
plants can significantly improve patients’ comfort and help to promote a healing environment. Whereas, the
presence of aspects such as excessive noise and curve contours can trigger increased stress and fear. Based
on the research I have gathered that illustrate the significant impact of the physical hospital environment on
patients, there are inexpensive and feasible alternations that can be and should be made to hospital rooms.
Hospitals should work towards adjusting their rooms to incorporate aspects that have been shown to promote
patient health, as well as minimizing negative aspects that have been shown to delay healing.
204. The Effect of the Internet on the Physician-patient Relationship
Mallika Dammalapati, Dept. of Biology, with Prof. Faye Prichard, VCU Honors College
In the Information Age, there is a growing integration of technology and healthcare and the Internet is a
primary tool for many healthcare consumers. From online-patient helpers to first hand blogs and experiences,
the Internet has much to offer when it comes to health-related information. My research looks to expand upon
the many conversations already occurring about how the Internet is changing patient interactions with
doctors through the information it provides patients. The majority of the research I found was conducted
using surveys as well as discussions with multiple patients. Although some sources provide evidence that the
Internet could be detrimental to the physician-patient relationship because of its vastness and unreliability,
many other sources point out that the proper use of the Internet has the ability to create a new generation of
informed patients that can become more active in decision-making regarding their healthcare. However, many
sources also say these kinds of effects are minimal and difficult to observe, and therefore, more research is
needed to target large and representative audiences to examine what kind of effects the Internet plays in
ultimate encounters with physicians. This research must encompass those who have difficulty accessing the
Internet whether because of socio-economic constrains or educational restrictions. More research must also
target how physicians view the Internet’s role in healthcare, especially with comparisons between younger and
older generations of physicians. This research is necessary as we may be in the midst of a healthcare
revolution that can harness the benefits of the Internet in healthcare with minimal drawbacks to the existing
physician-patient relationship.
205. A Study of Media Portrayal of Schizophrenics to Develop Solutions on How Media can
be Used to Reverse the Stigma Associated with Schizophrenia
Rainielle Cua, Dept. of Biology, with Prof. Maggie Tinsley, VCU Honors College
The news media are one of the most influential sources of information regarding mental illness for the general
public. Schizophrenia is one of the most stigmatized mental illnesses and media coverage tends to be
negative, focusing on schizophrenics’ high risks of violence, failure, and unpredictable behavior. Such
perceptions may cause a detrimental impact on the mentally ill and cause them to internalize a stigmatizing
stereotype and may hinder the public’s understanding of mental illness. I studied how media portrayal in
newspaper coverage of those who suffer from schizophrenia has evolved since the 1990s, because I wanted to
find out how nonfiction media representation has affected people’s perceptions of and attitude towards
schizophrenics over time in order to propose an implementable solution to reduce stigma by utilizing the
media. I explored scholarly sources that analyzed the changes in reporting of schizophrenia in highcirculation newspapers in different countries and how renaming schizophrenia in Japan and China reduced
the associated stigma and changed newspaper coverage. I examined sources that performed content analyses
on major newspapers and categorized articles to determine how reporting had changed over time. I also
investigated successful solutions that have been implemented in other countries that have helped decrease
the stigma associated with schizophrenia and how self-stigma reduction programs may aid schizophrenics
with managing their disease. My research has shown that the media does play a role in the stigmatization of
schizophrenia in multiple countries. Currently in other countries, destigmatization efforts are mostly directed
at providing more accurate information. An appeal for the government to provide opportunities to discuss and
reflect on media contents may also be successful in decreasing the association between mental illness and
violent crime. It is imperative that the U.S. creates and implements solutions that may decrease mental health
stigma and also discover other possible solutions. This will not only help the predicaments of those suffering
from mental illness, but may also educate the public on such mental health problems as to prevent further
misinformation.
206. Projecting Religiosity Trends in Muslim and Sikh Americans
Gurbani Jolly, Dept. of Psychology with Prof. Mary Boyes, VCU Honors College
The Muslim and Sikh American communities have been significantly affected post the September 11th, 2001
terrorist attacks, but not much research has been conducted on the changes in religiosity amongst these
groups post the terrorist attacks. As such, this study specifically examines Muslim and Sikh American adults’
behaviors post 9/11 to project a trend in religious identity, involvement, and adherence to the Muslim and
Sikh faith post the 2016 Presidential Election to demonstrate the need for further research regarding changes
in religiosity in Muslim and Sikh Americans. Sources that specifically had quantitative reports regarding
religious identity, involvement, and adherence to the Muslim and Sikh faith and hate crime statistics were
examined. Upon further investigation, there was minimal research on Sikh Americans on this topic; as such,
a poll on Sikh Americans was created by contacting Gurudwaras (Sikh temple) across the nation to distribute
the poll in weekly email updates. Various social psychology theories that may have been a factor in changes in
religiosity and/or hate crimes were also investigated. Currently, the sources found suggest that there is
inconclusive information regarding changes in religiosity as involvement at mosques decreased while wearing
the hijab everyday stayed constant, and mosque attendance everyday decreased post 9/11. In Sikh
Americans, involvement at the Gurudwara decreased slightly while Gurudwara attendance, wearing of
religious head coverings, and religious identity stayed about the same post the election. Based on the findings
available, it is difficult to project a trend post the 2016 Presidential Election, thus, further research needs to
be conducted regarding changes in religiosity, specifically looking at involvement and attendance at places of
worship, religious identity, and frequency of wearing religious head coverings in both Muslim and Sikh
Americans.
207. Does the structure of off-brand shoes have any negative impact on the musculoskeletal
system in the knee or foot?
Yashwant Mirajkar, Dept. of Biology, with Prof. Faye Prichard. VCU Honors College
I have never really been that interested in shoes so I always bought shoes that weren’t necessarily name
brand. My friends often jokingly made fun of the fact that I never bough name brand shoes from Nike and
Adidas, but I never really saw the point in spending $100 on a pair of shoes that I could fine for $20. For
about a year now, I have been experiencing moderate tendonitis in both of my knees. It recently dawned on
me that perhaps the type of shoe I had been wearing while running or other sports had played a role in the
damaging of my knees. Perhaps there was something in the structure of off brand shoes that affected my
knees. My question is does the structure of off-brand shoes have any negative impact on the musculoskeletal
system in the knee or foot? To research this question I looked at previous experiments examining the effects
of various insoles and shoe structures on stride and gait patterns as well as on adductor movement, all
factors that contributed knee osteoarthritis. I looked at data the encompassed a variety of age groups as well
as experiments that focused on different brands of shoes and the various effects they could have on the joints
and muscles in the foot and knee. The data I have collected so far supports my hypothesis that the structure
of shoes does affect the musculoskeletal system in lower extremities but that there is no significant difference
in the structure of shoes between off brand shoes and name brand shoes. This research can be used to find
noninvasive methods of alleviating tendonitis and knee valgus. Future research can be conducted on how the
structures of shoes can be used to prevent the development of joint pain and tendonitis.
208. The Saudi Arabian Oil Economy's Influence on the Government's Investments
Tala Khalefa, Dept. of Chemistry, with Prof. Mary Boyes, VCU Honors College
Saudi Arabia is one of the richest countries in the Middle East, as according to the World Bank it had a GDP
of 646 billion USD in 2015 (qtd. in Trade Economics). However, 50% of its GDP comes from the oil and gas
sector as of 2016, making it extremely dependent on the revenue it receives from oil (OPEC 8). While this
abundance of revenue in Saudi Arabia may seem like a blessing, the paradox of the resource curse theory
concludes that countries with an abundance of a nonrenewable resource show a trend of less economic
growth and development than other countries. This holds true for Saudi Arabia, as its dependence on the oil
industry took much of the government's focus, leaving behind certain innovations in the country like
education and infrastructure development. Saudi Arabia currently imports a large population of foreign
laborers, depends on imports of most of its raw material, and has inequality between wealth distributions of
the regions which are contributing to the issues of the nation. This paper analyzes the investment of the
Saudi Arabian government in its efforts to decrease the foreign labor force, increase the diversification of its
resources in its GDP, and increase the wealth in the areas outside the East and West Regions through the
non-oil sectors. The current research shows that despite efforts from the Saudi Arabian government to
combat its resource issues by introducing technology and increasing funding for education, Saudi Arabia
continues to have a majority of its workforce composed of foreign laborers. The oil and gas sector comprises
85% of total export earnings, making its GDP a one-resource economy (OPEC 8). This is important when
looking at the future outlooks for Saudi Arabia, especially as efforts to switch from non-renewable to
renewable resources increase as a source of energy.
209. How Hookups affect Women: A 21st Century Change
Karina Kopf, Dept. of International Business, with Prof. Faye Prichard, VCU Honors College
As a woman pursuing a college education while living on campus, I have been exposed to certain situations
and lifestyle habits that I was not previously exposed to. The most prominent of these is the overwhelming
presence of what researchers like to call “hookup culture” among college students living on campus. This
social phenomenon has become increasingly popular across the nation, but little research has been regarding
the subject. A typical stereotype that surrounds this culture is that women tend to have negative implications
from hooking up, while men are assumed to have primarily positive outcomes from the same experience. My
research question is how do changes in the way women are viewed in today’s society change the way they
react mentally to college hookups? In order to find an answer to my question I have looked at many scholarly
sources where many experiments were conducted in order to better understand how women feel about their
hookup experiences. Most of these experiments involve surveys taken by women on various college campuses.
The results of these surveys are then analyzed by the conductor of the experiments. From these sources I
have found that women who are more assertive during their hookups, and more willing to stand up for what
they want out of that experience tend to have positive reactions to hookups, while women who are pushed
into it or are not making decisions for themselves are less happy with their experience. I have also found
research that shows that women in the 21st century as a whole are much more willing to stand up for their
rights and speak out for what they want or what they believe in. I believe that there is a correlation between
the two, and that the stereotype that women as a whole are brought down by hookups, or tend to feel more
depressed afterwards is no longer true. I think that the next step would be to continue to find research that
could tie assertiveness in other aspects of life to assertiveness during hookups. I believe that this research
could help women in college better understand how to handle hookup culture, and allow them to avoid the
negative outcomes that may otherwise occur.
210. Medical abuses of marginalized communities and lack of culturally competent health
professionals harms disadvantaged patients’ perceptions of health care.
Sohal Tamanna, Dept. of Biomedical Engineering, with Prof. Faye Prichard, VCU Honors College
Health care does not reach everyone equally, and the quality of care that people receive is often
dependent on their social identities (race, gender, sexuality, socioeconomic class, language, etc). I aim to learn
how the history of medical abuse of marginalized patients has broadened the gap between the perceptions of
health care, both as a system and as a method for self care, among marginalized communities and privileged
communities. Also, I aim to connect that history to the quality of care currently available to marginalized
patients. First, I investigated the current state of the health care environment and gathered experiences of
LGBTQ+ people, people living with HIV, and LGBTQ+ people of color. Then, I examined the techniques that
clinics and groups that recognize problems in lack of cultural competency and availability of quality health
care used to expand access. Finally, I analyzed the history of medical abuse of marginalized patients,
specifically poor black and Native American women. My current research shows that the governmentsanctioned medical abuse of marginalized communities over history combined with individual doctors’ lack of
cultural competency has fostered fear and suspicion within many disadvantaged people, including LGBTQ+
people, people living with HIV, and poor women of color. I am still exploring how women of color perceive
health care as a method for self care while knowing that, historically, the United States’ health system has not
prioritized and valued their lives and choices. Implications include periodically providing cultural competency
training at clinics and practices, with special attention on why marginalized patients may be uncomfortable
within the health care system, and collaboration between health care professionals, community members,
and allies to create more accessible programs.
211. Acupuncture as a Potential Alternative to Epidural Analgesia for Pain Management
During Labor
Joy Ma, Dept. of Statistics, with Prof. Faye Prichard, VCU Honors College
While current methods of labor pain management, specifically epidural analgesia, are effective in managing
pain, these treatments are often accompanied by dangerous side effects which can lead to long term
ramifications. Thus, it is necessary to find suitable alternatives to this invasive method of analgesic. I am
studying needle acupuncture and epidural analgesia, both used to reduce a woman’s pain in labor and
vaginal birth, because I want to figure how the release of beta-endorphins or the use of opioids can change
neurotransmitters in the brain in order to help my reader understand the possible alternatives for pain
management during labor. I investigated the potential consequences and benefits of implementing either
treatment. I explored the feasibility of using different forms of acupuncture for pain management. I examined
the different mechanisms through which epidurals and acupuncture affect the brain in order to discover
whether exogenous opioids (which come in epidurals) or endogenous opioids also known as beta-endorphins
(which are stimulated by acupuncture) are more powerful in reducing pain. My research currently shows that
epidural analgesia should be used more sparingly because it can have a negative effect on the mother’s
physical and mental health. I believe I will find that either acupuncture, although not a panacea, can be a
suitable alternative to epidurals for women seeking pain relief during labor or that the two should be used in
conjunction to provide maximum pain relief with minimum negative side effects. It will be beneficial to
conduct a study to test the effectiveness of the results of this paper in order to determine experimentally if
these methods can be applied to pain management in hospitals.
212. How learning disorders, specifically ADHD and ADD, affect the impacts of addicting
substances and how they relate to substance use disorders.
Mana Nasseri, Depts. of Biology and Chemistry, with Prof. Faye Prichard, VCU Honors College
My proposed question is: how do learning disorders, specifically ADHD and ADD, affect the impacts of
addicting substances and how do they relate to substance use disorder (SUD)? I’m researching this area
because as a person who has ADD, I understand what exactly it means to not be able to focus clearly. I
wanted to understand more about this disorder and I also thought it would be interesting to compare the
juxtaposition of disorders that disable a person from staying focused versus substances that causes people to
only fixate on that/become addicted. To test this question, I examined multiple scholarly articles and metaanalyses. The results indicated that there is a high linkage between ADHD and SUD. Multiple studies and
research have found that individuals who have ADHD possess a greater risk for obtaining SUD not only
because of the disease itself but through neurological, social, environmental, and biological factors that are
associated with ADHD. The direction that future research is heading towards is focused on helping to prevent
individuals with ADHD from getting SUD. A main area of research is dedicated to discovering what the
biomarkers for SUD in the individuals who have ADHD are to help prevent them from being susceptible to
SUD.
213. Religion in Modern American Elections
Andrew Heinsius, with Prof. Maggie Tinsley, VCU Honors College
Due to many differing and significantly zealous opinions coming from all sides of contemporary media, I
decided to plunge into research that began with curiosity about how much religion really does affect American
politics, and whether it is more or less involved today than it has been historically. These feelings grew into
research on how religion was represented in government today in comparison, then finally into an analysis of
religion’s influence on the election chances of recent (1940-2016) candidates for federal office as put into its
historical context. Through avid research from both religious and nonreligious sources, and many reviews of
statistics via surveys and polls, as well as analysis of many media sources, I have expected to reach the result
that religion, even today, is a strong force in the American electoral process and our representative system,
even though certain other political trends have slowed to a halt (in-viability of black, female, Catholic, Jewish
, etc. candidates). This conclusion could have far-reaching consequences - and in fact does already - upon
how both candidates and American voters behave within the federal system of American government regardless of whether they are religious or not - such as: many candidates having much stronger religious
roots than their constituents, religious debate factoring into political debates, or many candidates losing
viability for election due to their religious preferences and/or the preferences of their constituents.
214. Development of Guinness World Records 1995-2005: Digital Influence on Audience
Processes and Print Design
Lydia Gyurina, Dept. of Kinetic Imaging, with Prof. Mary Boyes, VCU Honors College
The Internet introduced new ways of presenting information and dramatically altered nearly every
aspect of modern society, including print publications. However, little research has been conducted on the
changes that occurred in print media during the Internet’s formative years. Because of its popularity and
serial nature, Guinness World Records provides an excellent lens through which to investigate these changes.
Between the years 1995 and 2005, while the Internet emerged and gained popularity, Guinness World Records
underwent substantial changes in design and branding. This paper investigates the changes in design and
language which occurred in Guinness World Records in American editions of the book between 1995 to 2005,
in order to determine if and how the rise of the Internet changed the primary purpose of the book from
education from entertainment, and how this shift has influenced its design.
I examined every issue of Guinness World Records which was published between 1995 and 2005,
paying special attention to the cover design, title spreads, layout of pages, and language used in introductions
and in record entries. I also investigated the development of the company itself, and explored current
scholarship on the Internet’s effect on culture and audience processes. My research revealed that between
1995 and 2005, Guinness World Records became more skim-friendly, as evidenced by a decrease in articlebased and narrative elements throughout the book in favor of brief, impersonal descriptions of records and of
the book itself. These changes likely occurred due to a growing digital media market and a growing
expectation of instant gratification due to the Internet, in addition to the shift in mission and expansion of the
company itself.
My research addresses the changes which occur a within single publication during a relatively short
time frame. Additional research is left to be done regarding the changes in graphic design and language in
other forms of media which occurred during the developmental years of the Internet and its related
technology.